Loons Wins a Package Deal

LANSING, Mich. - The Loons played twice and won twice, 11-6 and 5-2, on a cold but sunny Sunday afternoon at Cooley Law School Stadium to improve their record to 2-2.
The Loons salvaged a series split with the Lugnuts thanks to the sweep of the twin bill; the Loons did not win both games of a doubleheader at all last season.
Slow starts plagued the team in the first two games of the season, a fate the Loons managed to avoid on Sunday. A game one output of 11 runs and 12 hits became the Loons new benchmark for offensive productivity this season. 
The Loons' best inning at the plate this season occurred in the fifth inning of the first game: ten men batted, and the Loons scored five runs on six hits. Starling Heredia, Ramon Rodriguez and Brayan Morales each netted three RBI in the game, and everyone in manager John Shoemaker's lineup reached base at least twice in the seven-inning affair, which lasted three hours and four minutes.
Momentum from the first game carried over into the second, shorter (one hour and 54 minutes) installment of the doubleheader. Marcus Chiu, the Dodgers' 15th-round selection in last June's draft, demolished a two-run home run in the game's second at-bat to stake the Loons to a quick 2-0 lead. The first batter of the ballgame, Brandon Montgomery, had reached on an error by Lansing shortstop Kevin Smith.
Power continued to define the Loons attack in the game. Left-hander Nick Yarnall doubled in the first inning and led off the third inning with an opposite field home run to stretch the Loons lead to 4-0 (the Loons' advantage reached its zenith later in the inning a sacrifice fly by Garrett Hope). In addition, Romer Cuadrado provided the first triple of the season for the Loons as part of a three-hit game.  
Loons pitching held the Lugnuts to two hits in game two on Sunday; it was the second time in the series the Loons held Lansing to a pair of hits.
The road trip continues Monday in West Michigan at 6:30 p.m. Coverage can be heard on ESPN 100.9-FM, ESPN1009.com, Loons.com and on mobile devices using the TuneIn App.
The Loons will return to Dow Diamond next weekend for a three-game homestand against the Dayton Dragons on April 13-15. Friday's game will begin at 6:05 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday will both be matinees starting at 2:05 p.m.
The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.