Back-to-Back Homers Drive Loons to Third Straight Win
July 29, 2022 - Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release
MIDLAND, Mich. - When the Great Lakes Loons came to bat in the sixth inning Friday at Dow Diamond, they trailed the Lansing Lugnuts for the first time all night.
They didn't trail for long.
A two-run homer from Jose Ramos put the Loons in front, then Imanol Vargas hit his second homer of the night as Great Lakes wins its third straight game, 4-2.
The Loons (57-37, 17-11 second half) struck first in the bottom of the second inning, on the first Vargas blast. His solo shot put the Loons ahead, 1-0.
Lansing (36-58, 11-17) did not score until the top of the fifth inning. Denzel Clarke doubled to lead off the frame, and two outs later, Alexander Campos doubled him home to tie the game at one.
The Lugnuts, High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, took their first lead in the top of the sixth. Tyler Soderstrom, the top prospect on the team, went deep for the third time this week to put the visitors in front, 2-1. That finished up a solid start for Nick Nastrini (W, 4-3), who tossed six frames of two-run baseball. The UCLA righty allowed just four hits and two walks while punching out six.
Great Lakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers' High-A partner, retook the lead immediately, thanks to the Ramos bomb off of Kumar Nambiar (L, 6-3). The homer from Vargas which followed bounced off the top of the foul pole. For the Loons, it was the first instance of back-to-back homers since mid-September of last season. That gave the Loons their 4-2 advantage that became the final score.
The Loons bullpen continued its terrific week with three scoreless innings in relief. Jeff Belge tossed the seventh, pitching around a pair of hits with three strikeouts. Ben Harris spun a perfect eighth frame with a pair of punchouts. Ryan Sublette (SV, 6) came in for the ninth and allowed a two-out single, but nothing more, picking up two strikeouts including one that ended the ballgame.
For the second time this week, the Loons were outhit by the Lugnuts (tonight, seven to five) yet still won the game. It is the 12th time this season the Loons have won a game they were outhit. For comparison, they are 41-9 when outhitting their opponent.
Great Lakes increases their advantage in the series, three games to one, and in the season series, nine games to seven. The six-game set continues Saturday night at Dow Diamond at 7:05 p.m. On ESPN 100.9-FM, pregame coverage begins with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland, at 6:50 p.m. Carlos Duran (0-1, 2.84 ERA), Loons right-hander, takes on Lansing lefty Jack Owen (2-1, 3.33 ERA).
Storm the Dow Diamond castle on Princess and Pirate night - bring your tiaras and wands, your eye patches and parrots. After the game, watch the skies light up over Dow Diamond with a Fireworks Loontacular, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. Tickets are still available on Loons.com.
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