MWL Lansing Lugnuts

Beck, Lugs Outslug Dragons, 8-7

Published on May 14, 2022 under Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


LANSING, Mich. - Austin Beck hit two of the Lansing Lugnuts' four home runs, Trayson Kubo struck out J.V. Martinez with bases loaded in the ninth, and the Lugnuts (14-18) held off the Dayton Dragons (21-10), 8-7, on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™.

It was the Lugnuts' second four-homer game of the year; the Nuts have now belted 20 home runs in 12 games in May after hitting 11 homers in 20 games in April. Additionally, putting the home in home run, the Lugnuts have knocked 25 of their 31 total longballs at Jackson® Field™.

Trailing 4-1 in the fourth inning against Dayton starter Christian Roa, Beck crushed a 409-foot homer off the facing of the Good Hops bistro in left-center, his fifth roundtripper of the year.

Facing reliever James Marinan an inning later, Lawrence Butler tied the game with a two-run double off the top of the left-center field wall. The next batter was Beck, who drilled a two-run shot to left to give the Lugnuts a 6-4 lead.

Drew Swift hit Marinan's first pitch of the seventh inning out to left for a 7-4 lead, notching his first homer of the year.

After Dayton center fielder Allan Cerda narrowed the score to 7-6 with a 457-foot blast in the eighth, Jared McDonald provided an important insurance tally in the bottom of the eighth with a 415-foot drive to center. It was the Lugnuts catcher's second homer of the season.

The ninth inning was tense. With one out, Justice Thompson drew a walk from Angello Infante. Infante retired Alex McGarry, who had homered earlier in the game, on a flyout to right. Down to their last strike, the Dragons received an RBI triple from Rece Hinds, drawing back within a run. Infante then walked both Cerda and Nick Quintana, loading the bases.

In from the Lugnuts bullpen came Trayson Kubo, who froze Martinez with a 1-2 slider to end the game.

The game was delayed 37 minutes at the start due to a strong pop-up shower that swept through. It was then concluded - with 15 total runs, 21 hits and eight walks - in a brisk two hours and 22 minutes.

Mac Lardner started for the Nuts in his A's organizational debut, tossing two scoreless before departing two outs into the third after allowing four runs (three earned). Edward Baram followed with 3 1/3 valuable scoreless innings before Brock Whittlesey pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing two runs, to bridge to the ninth.

The Lugnuts' Beck, Swift and Tyler Soderstrom each finished the night 2-for-4.

Having won three of the first five games of the six-game set, the Lugnuts send right-hander Joey Estes (4.74 ERA) to the mound in the 1:05 p.m. Sunday finale, opposed by Dayton right-hander James Proctor (3.71). Gates open at 12 noon on a Capital City Market Kids Day with postgame Kids Run the Bases. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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Midwest League Stories from May 14, 2022


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