2018 Flashback: Lugnuts Come up Just Short in Bowling Green
April 26, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - In the first round of the 2018 Midwest League playoffs, the Bowling Green Hot Rods tipped the Lansing Lugnuts in two straight one-run games on their way to their first league championship.
In their first meeting of 2019, the Bowling Green Bootleggers (12-9) - a nickname used on Thursday home games only - were pressed to the limit before eking out a 6-5 victory over the Lugnuts (10-10) on Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark
The game ended dramatically: Lansing speedster Reggie Pruitt stood at third base representing the game-tying run, with Bowling Green reliever Chris Muller (Save, 2) dealing a 3-2 pitch to Jordan Groshans, the league's leading hitter entering the day. Groshans grounded back to the mound, wrapping up the Bootleggers' victory.
18-year-old Bowling Green phenom Wander Franco went 3-for-4 with two solo homers and an RBI single off the left field wall to bolster the Bootleggers' offense. Meanwhile, starter Caleb Sampen (Win, 2-1) fanned nine while allowing one run on four hits in six innings - but the Lugnuts struck back against the Bootleggers' bullpen.
Down 5-1 entering the seventh, Hagen Danner tripled and scored on a D.J. Neal sacrifice fly and Otto Lopez added an RBI double to pull the Nuts within two.
After Franco's second homer of the night rebuilt the Bootleggers' lead to 6-3, Jake Brodt doubled and scored on a Johnny Aiello RBI grounder in the eighth to again cut the deficit to two.
In the ninth, singles by Neal and Pruitt kept hope alive for the visitors. Muller tossed two wild pitches, bringing in Neal to shave the Bowling Green lead to one, but the Lugnuts came up 90 feet short.
Lansing starter Fitz Stadler (Loss, 1-2) worked five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three. Cobi Johnson pitched the three innings in relief, waiting out a 38-minute rain delay in the sixth, and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks, striking out three.
In defeat, Pruitt finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk, extending his consecutive on-base streak to 18 games.
The second game of the four-game series will see a pair of Fort Myers area pitchers duel: Nuts right-hander Josh Winckowski (1.42 ERA) against Bowling Green lefty Shane McClanahan (4.70). First pitch is at 7:35 p.m. Eastern, 6:35 p.m. local time.
The Nuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Tuesday, April 30th, opening a six-game homestand against Wisconsin and Beloit. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from April 26, 2019
- Cubs Sneak Past Late TinCaps Rally and Win 7-4 - South Bend Cubs
- Captains Fight Back to Beat Whitecaps - Lake County Captains
- 'Caps Canâ??t Come Back Again - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cougars Allow Six Unanswered in Loss - Kane County Cougars
- Winckowski, Rees Silence Hot Rods - Lansing Lugnuts
- Loons Overcome 5-1 Deficit, Top Dragons 7-5 - Dayton Dragons
- Late Scare Survival - Great Lakes Loons
- Hot Rods Shutout 4-0 in Friday Night Loss - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Kernels Rally for 6-2 Win Friday - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Hill Shuts Down Burlington as Rattlers Win 2-0 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- TinCaps Game Notes: April 26 at South Bend (Game 21) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons on TV Saturday and Sunday on Dayton's CW - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons Notes for Friday - Dayton Dragons
- Whitecaps Outlast Captains in 10 - Lake County Captains
- 'Caps Earn Wild Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- 'Caps Come Back & Pull Away Late - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- 2018 Flashback: Lugnuts Come up Just Short in Bowling Green - Lansing Lugnuts
- Franco's Two Homers Hold off Lugnuts in 6-5 Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
