Great Lakes lose first game of 2015 Midwest League Playoffs

The Great Lakes Loons opened the 2015 Midwest League playoffs with a loss tonight against the Lansing Lugnuts 6-5 at the Dow Diamond.  The first round of playoffs is the best of three games.    The series now moves to Lansing for games 2 and 3.    In front of a small crowd (1,807) tonight the Loons jumped out in front 2-1 against division rival Lansing.   However the Lugnuts would come right back and take the lead 3-2 after the Loons committed a few errors in the outfield.  

The Loons would knot the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning to protect Loons starter Grant Holmes who struggled in the fifth inning.   He would end up with no decision on the night after 4 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs.    The leading hitter tonight for the Loons would be Matt Beaty and Justin Chigbogu who both would have 2 hits against the Lugnuts.   Lansing would open up a lead in the top of the seventh inning by stringing together 3 hits and a Loons error to score 3 runs and the lead 6-3.    

Michael Ahmed and Garrett Kennedy would try to make it close by both hitting solo shots in the 7th and 8th innings to make the score 6-5.   Lansing shut down the Loons in the bottom of the ninth to take the series lead 1-0.   Jason Leblebijian would pace the Lugnuts with 3 hits.    The Loons now must go to Thomas Cooley Law Stadium take two games from the Lugnuts. 

What I find interesting is that the Loons are in the hunt for the Midwest League title after making 160 roster moves in 2015.    70 different players have worn the Loons uniform this season.    The line-up that started tonight didn't look anything like the Opening Day starting line-up back in April.    Oh well that is Minor League Baseball at its best with players moving up and down during the course of the season.