Calaveras Ease Past Locos, 7-1
July 27, 2024 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - Joe Miller tossed five scoreless innings and the West Michigan Whitecaps (14-14, 45-49) - playing as Las Calaveras de West Michigan on a Copa de la Diversión night - defeated the Lansing Locos (14-15, 46-48), 7-1, on Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Lansing has still won three of the first five games of the series and would clinch a series victory with a win in the Sunday finale.
The West Michigan lefty set the tone, backed by double plays in each of the first two innings to erase a Ryan Lasko first-inning walk and an Euribiel Ángeles second-inning single, striking out two and surviving a fifth-inning drive by Luke Mann to the center field wall.
Will Johnston matched Miller through the first three innings, but the ice was broken on a remarkable sacrifice fly: with Eddys Leonard at third base, right fielder Danny Bautista, Jr. made a brilliant diving catch in foul ground of a Roberto Campos fly, rolling swiftly to his feet and firing a one-hopper home, but the throw went up the third base line and Leonard dodged CJ Rodriguez 's tag on his way to scoring standing up.
An inning later, a two-out throwing error by shortstop Ángeles opened the door for a Max Anderson two-out, two-run double for a 3-0 Calaveras lead.
Seth Stephenson added a two-run single in the sixth off Yehizon Sanchez and Bennett Lee knocked a two-run double in the eighth off Jack Owen to finish off the West Michigan scoring.
Lansing's only run came in the eighth inning off Cleiverth Pérez, thanks to a Cameron Masterman triple and a Rodriguez RBI groundout.
In defeat, Locos center fielder Lasko went 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk.
The series finale is set for 2:05 p.m. Sunday, with Lansing right-hander Blaze Pontes facing West Michigan right-hander Austin Bergner.
Lansing then returns home from July 30 - August 4 for a six-game series against Dayton. For tickets and further information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.
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