Five RBIs by Lansing’s John Tolisano enough to beat Loons

John Tolisano drove in five runs and the Lansing Lugnuts took the rubber game of a three-game series Monday night by a score of 6-2 at Oldsmobile Park.

With the game tied 1-1, Tolisano doubled in the fourth to plate Mike McDade and Eric Eiland, both of whom walked against starter Daigoro Rondon.

Then in the sixth, leading 3-1, Tolisano cranked a three-run home run well beyond the left-center field fence, his fifth homer of the season.

The Lugnuts scored first in the first on a two-out single by Manny Rodriguez.

The Loons tied the game in the third with two outs and runners at the corners. With two strikes on Andrew Lambo, Erik Kanaby took off from first, drawing a throw from starting pitcher Chi-Hung Cheng. On the ensuing throw to second, Parker Dalton took off from third and scored ahead of a high throw from Justin Jackson. After the ball got away from catcher Matt Liuzza, Kanaby tried to score all the way from first but was tagged out by Liuzza.

The Loons did not score again until the eighth, when Lambo singled to score Kenley Jansen.

Cheng (4-4) notched the win for Lansing, while Rondon (4-8), making his first start since June 1, was the losing pitcher.

The Loons return to Dow Diamond to begin a six-game homestand Wednesday with the first of a three-game series against the Burlington Bees, an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Gametime is scheduled for 7 p.m.