Loons turn tables, roast Nuts, 12-2

MIDLAND, Mich. - A day after being shut out on four hits, the Great Lakes Loons (22-29, 58-62) piled up 12 hits and 10 walks in a 12-2 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (21-30, 58-59) on Tuesday night at Dow Diamond.

The Lugs trailed their hosts by one run, 3-2, going to the bottom of the fifth inning, but a five-run fifth broke the game open. Right fielder Starling Heredia added a three-run sixth-inning homer, while Loons catcher Connor Wong - who entered play with just seven hits in 52 at-bats - finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs.

19-year-old Loons starter Dustin May (Win, 8-6) gave up nine hits in seven innings but limited the Lugnuts to solo tallies in the second and the fifth.

Lansing starter Andy Ravel (Loss, 6-8) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in four innings, striking out three.

The bullpen fared worse: Griffin Glaude gave up all five runs in the fifth and Denis Diaz served up Heredia's roundtripper in the sixth. Yonardo Herdenez came on to record six outs stretching from the sixth through the eighth innings before infielder Luis Silva struck Saige Jenco on three pitches to strand the bases loaded in the eighth.

In defeat, left fielder Nick Sinay went 2-for-3 with two singles and a hit-by-pitch for the second consecutive game. It was his 34th HBP of the year, bringing him within two of tying the Midwest League's single-season record. Joshua Palacios added three singles in five at-bats, and Kevin Vicuña was 2-for-4 with an RBI in his Lugnuts debut.

The third game of the four-game series, set for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, will see 20-year-old Lansing right-hander Yennsy Diaz (4-2, 3.86) oppose 19-year-old Loons right-hander Alfredo Tavarez (0-0, 7.20).

The next Nuts home game is at 7:05 p.m. against the South Bend Cubs on Friday, August 18th, a Family Faith Night with postgame LAFCU Fireworks. 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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