MWL1 Lansing Lugnuts

Dixon, Loons hold off Lugnuts, 8-5

Published on June 30, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


LANSING, Mich. - Brandon Dixon hit his first professional home run and drove in five runs -- but for the second straight game, the Great Lakes Loons (9-2, 36-45) had to survive a ninth inning rally, winning 8-5 over the Lansing Lugnuts (2-8, 34-45) at Cooley Law School Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Loons have now won seven straight games, improving to 3-10 against Lansing this season.

Down 8-4 entering the ninth, the Lugnuts loaded the bases against Loons closer Craig Stem with one out. Dwight Smith, Jr. grounded out to score a run and get Lansing to within 8-5.

After Stem walked Christian Lopes to reload the bases, Luis Meza was brought into the game to face off against Lugs' slugger Kevin Patterson, who came to the plate as the game-winning run. Patterson swung at the first pitch he saw, driving the ball deep to right field, but not deep enough, as the ball was caught to end the game. Meza recorded his second save of the season.

The Loons were able to jump ahead early thanks to Dixon. With two on and two out in the first inning, he took Lansing starter Alonzo Gonzalez (Loss, 2-8) deep to left-center for his first professional home run after being drafted in the third round by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month. That gave the Loons an early 3-0 lead.

Gonzalez lasted just 2.2 innings, struggling with his command all afternoon. He allowed five total runs - two more in the second inning on an RBI single by Leo Rodriguez and bases-loaded walk to Corey Seager - on seven Loons' hits. Gonzalez issued three walks and struck out three in the loss.

The teams exchanged runs the next two innings before Dixon blew things open in the sixth.

With two on once again, and the Loons up 6-4, Dixon doubled down the left field line to stretch the Great Lakes lead to 8-4, driving in his fourth and fifth runs of the ballgame.

Offensively, the Lugs only mustered five hits, three by second baseman Lopes. He hit an RBI double in the first inning to get the Lugs to within 3-1 before a Patterson sacrifice fly got Lansing to within 3-2. In the third, Lopes doubled again, coming home to score on Patterson's RBI groundout. His third hit was a leadoff single in the home half of the eighth inning.

After Loons' starter Chris Anderson gave up three runs in 2.1 innings, the Loons bullpen came up huge, allowing just two runs in 6.2 innings of relief. Scott Griggs (Win, 2-4) tossed three scoreless frames in the middle of the game, to hold the lead and earn the win.

The series finale is set for 7:05 p.m. first pitch on Monday night with the Lugs giving the ball to right-hander Taylor Cole (4-6, 4.42). The Loons will counter with 2013 second round pick Tom Windle (0-0, 0.00), a left-hander.

Lansing Lugnuts tickets are available for purchase at lansinglugnuts.com and by calling 517-485-4500, and Lugnuts text alerts are easily accessed by texting LUGNUTS to 313131.

Check out the Lansing Lugnuts Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 30, 2013


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