Loons drop series to Lugnuts

The Lansing Lugnuts used a pair of home runs from Matt Liuzza and 11-runs in a wild eighth inning as the Lansing Lugnuts defeated the Great Lakes Loons Sunday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd of 5,586 fans at Dow Diamond by a score of 18-6.

The eighth inning featured 11 runs, seven Lansing hits, and four walks off of a trio of Loons relievers. Matt Liuzza connected for his second home run of the ballgame in the frame, his fifth of the season. Mike McDade also launched a two-run homer in the inning as well.

John Tolisano and Moises Sierra also homered in the victory for the Lugnuts.

On the Loons side, Jaime Ortiz was one of the few bright spots for the Loons in one of his best games of the season with a double, triple and home run.

Edgar Estanga (7-1) picked up his second win in the past three nights for the Lugnuts after giving up two runs (one earned) in one inning in relief.

Great Lakes spoiled a pitching gem by Victor Garate Friday, who pitched six scoreless innings, in the opening game of the series after Lansing pulled out a 3-1 win in 12 innings. The Loons made up for it Saturday, taking advantage of a strong pitching performance from Justin Miller and three runs scored by Brian Mathews to pick up a 5-1 win.

Due to the Midwest League All-Star break, the Loons can head home and rest until the start of the second half of Midwest League season when they will take on the Dayton Dragons from Fifth-Third Field this Thursday night. Game time is 7:00 p.m.