Trailing 8-0 after three innings, the Lansing Lugnuts rallied for 12 runs in the 6th through 8th innings to beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 12-10 on Saturday.

It had been awhile since Lansing scored that many runs against Bowling Green. In fact, the Lugnuts scored a total of only 10 runs in their previous five games against the Hot Rods this season, and didn’t score more than six runs in any of the teams’ previous 21 meetings. (Hat tip to Hot Rods broadcaster Alex Cohen for that tidbit.)

The Hot Rods scored eight of their runs early, plating three runs in the top of the 2nd and five unearned tallies in the top of the 3rd, all off Lugnuts starting pitcher Andy Ravel. Geno Encina took the mound to start the 4th inning, and he kept Bowling Green off the board for 3.2 innings before Jackson McClelland pitched the rest of the way for Lansing.

The Lugnuts managed only one hit and one walk off Hot Rods starting pitcher Ethan Clark, who exited after four innings. Lansing’s bats came alive against Clark’s replacement, Porter Clayton, and scored six runs in the bottom of the 6th. The ‘Nuts then scored four runs off reliever Elias Torres in the 7th, and two runs off Robbie Tenerowicz — who normally plays infield — in the 8th.

The Hot Rods rallied for two runs in the top of the 9th inning, but fell short two runs in the end.

Hot Rods leftfielder Garrett Whitley (the No. 10 Tampa Bay Rays prospect, according to Baseball America) went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double and four RBI. Hot Rods second baseman Miles Mastrobuoni went 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBI.

First baseman Christian Williams and rightfielder Edward Olivares each drove in three runs for the Lugnuts, and centerfielder J.B. Woodman went 3-for-5.

TinCaps beat Loons 12-2

The Fort Wayne TinCaps didn’t need more than the three runs they scored in the 5th inning to beat the Great Lakes Loons on Saturday, but they didn’t stop there.

After the Loons scored twice in the bottom of the 7th inning, the TinCaps responded with a run of their own in the top of the 8th before punctuating their victory with an eight-run 9th inning.

TinCaps shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (the No. 8 San Diego Padres prospect, according to MLB Pipeline) went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and four RBI. Three of his teammates — third baseman Hudson Potts, second baseman Eguy Rosario and catcher Marcus Greene Jr. — each had three hits and at least one RBI.

Second baseman Brendon Davis drove in both of Great Lakes’ runs on a two-out single.

TinCaps starter Austin Smith got the win after giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6.1 innings. Loons starter Jordan Sheffield pitched four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and one walk while striking out five.

Mahle pitches perfect game in SL

Former Dayton Dragons pitcher Tyler Mahle threw a nine-inning perfect game Saturday, hurling the Southern League’s first perfecto since 1970. You can read about the Cincinnati Reds prospect’s impressive achievement here.

Mahle also pitched a nine-inning no-hitter in the Florida State League last year. He pitched for the Dragons in 2015, going 13-8 with a 2.43 ERA, 135 strikeouts and 25 walks in 152 innings (27 games/26 starts).

His brother Greg is a pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization and was a reliever for the Burlington Bees in 2014. Greg Mahle posted a 3.38 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 12 walks in 29.1 innings (18 games) in the Midwest League.

Bonifacio makes MLB debut

Former Kane County Cougars outfielder Jorge Bonifacio made his major-league debut for the Kansas City Royals on Friday. He started in right field and batted eighth, and went 0-for-3 at the plate. He did not play Saturday.

Bonifacio batted .282 with 10 HR and 61 RBI in 105 games with the 2012 Cougars. He is the younger brother of Atlanta Braves outfielder Emilio Bonifacio, who batted .266 with 2 HR, 81 RBI and 95 SB in 247 games with the 2004-05 South Bend Silver Hawks.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (right) played with the Kane County Cougars in 2012. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)