Loons table Lugnuts, 7-2

LANSING, Mich. - On an Eat-A-Palooza presented by Gordon Food Service, with an all-you-can-eat buffet on the concourse, the Great Lakes Loons (24-24) allowed the Lansing Lugnuts (26-20) a serving of two runs in the first inning and denied them thereafter, winning a second straight game, 7-2, on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The defeat came despite a sterling effort from Lansing starter Andy Ravel , who struck out a professional-high nine batters in five innings, including four straight to open the game.

With two outs in the first inning, Bo Bichette doubled, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. laced an RBI single, and Bradley Jones feasted with an RBI single for a 2-0 Lugnuts lead.

Lansing did not score again, and only collected five more hits the rest of the night.

The Loons tied the score in the fourth on a Luis Paz two-out, two-run double.

In the sixth, with Ravel departing due to pitch count, the Loons welcomed reliever Chris Hall (Loss, 1-2) with a four-run rally thanks to a team cycle. Brendon Davis belted a two-run homer, Stevie Berman singled, Paz knocked an RBI triple and Errol Robinson finished matters with an RBI double.

The Loons added icing to the cake with a Cody Thomas RBI single in the ninth.

Great Lakes starter A.J. Alexy pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing six hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and four strikeouts. He was relieved by Austin French(Win, 1-1), who worked the next 2 1/3 innings scorelessly.

Miguel Urena picked up his third save, holding the Lugnuts without a hit for the final nine outs.

In defeat, Jake Thomas increased his MiLB-leading on-base percentage to .478, going 1-for-2 with a single and two walks. Bichette singled and doubled in four at-bats, increasing his league-leading batting average to .377.

Sunday is a Delta Dental Kids Day celebrating Cars! Gates open at 1:00 p.m., with pregame Play Catch on the Field, postgame Kids Run the Bases, and a 2:05 p.m. pitching matchup featuring Lansing right-hander Patrick Murphy (3-1, 3.66) opposite Great Lakes right-hander Chris Mathewson (1-0, 4.05). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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