Romanin, balanced attack key 13-7 romp

LANSING, Mich. - Mattingly Romanin collected three hits and took part in four double plays, and the Lansing Lugnuts (15-22, 52-51) rode a seven-run fifth inning to a 13-7 victory over the Great Lakes Loons (16-21, 52-54) on Monday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

With the exception of Luis Silva , every batter in the Lugnuts' lineup hit safely. With the exception of Mitch Nay , every batter scored at least one run.

A day after scoring seven runs off promising Loons 19-year-old All-Star Dustin May, the Lugnuts tallied ten runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and four walks against 20-year-old southpaw Leo Crawford(Loss, 6-9).

Crawford departed five batters into the fifth inning, which saw the first seven Lugnuts batters all reach base and come around score. Second baseman Romanin played a role, following a fourth-inning double with a fifth-inning bases-loaded RBI single. Edward Olivares added a two-run single three batters later against reliever Ryan Moseley.

Lansing starter Yennsy Diaz (Win, 4-2) battled through five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one.

The Lugnuts increased their lead to 13-4 before the Loons scored one run in the seventh and two in the eighth against reliever Geno Encina .

Nick Hartman pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to lock down the win, striking out two.

Lansing has won four of the first six games on its seven-game homestand, and will look to take the series from the Loons at 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday on a Summer Fun Day coupled with a Dollar Deal Day. Right-hander Patrick Murphy (2.87) returns from the 7-day Disabled List to duel with Loons northpaw Chris Mathewson (3.29). 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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