Friday, May 4, 2012
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler
( 517) 485-4500, extension 233

Lugnuts' comeback falls short at Great Lakes

MIDLAND, Mich. – Eleven hits and eight runs were not enough as the Lansing Lugnuts’ (19-8) comeback bid came up short against the Great Lakes Loons (15-13) in a 9-8 loss Friday afternoon at Dow Diamond.

The Lugnuts trailed 7-1 and 9-3 but could never could get over the hump in the loss, which gave the Loons the three-game series victory.

Lugnuts starter Marcus Walden (Loss, 1-1) was strong in the first inning but allowed five hits and four runs in the second before he was knocked out after 1 2/3 innings, the shortest outing by a Lansing starter this year.

First baseman O’Koyea Dickson led the 13-hit Great Lakes attack in his first game as a Loon with three RBI, a home run and three runs scored in a 2-for-4 day. Jan Vazquez went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Pedro Guerrero, Jesse Bosnik, and Noel Cuevas all went 2-for-4.

Blake McFarland relieved Walden in the second inning and allowed five runs over 5 1/3, but retired the final eight Loons he faced to give the Lugnuts a chance at the comeback.

Lansing scored four in the sixth and one in the eighth to pull to within one, but their comeback came up short. Jon Berti was retired just once in five plate appearances, he drove in three, scored a run and smacked a triple.

Kevin Patterson drove in one run in addition to ripping two doubles in his 3-for-5 afternoon.

Kevin Pillar went 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI, and Andy Burns laced his fourth homer of the year in the second inning in a 2-for-4 day.

Matt Laney (Win, 1-2) did not record a 1-2-3 inning in his 5 2/3 innings start for the Loons, yielding three runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

The Lugs now return home to Lansing on Saturday, May 5th, to open seven-game homestand beginning with a LAFCU Fireworks Cinco de Mayo celebration!  Prized prospect Aaron Sanchez (3-0, 0.00) starts for Lansing opposite West Michigan lefty Kyle Ryan (1-1, 4.40) at 7:05 p.m. to open a four game series against the Whitecaps.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.

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