Despite Gouldsmith's Heroics, Lugnuts Drop Twin Bill
Published on August 1, 2026 under Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
APPLETON, Wisc. - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (19-15, 53-43) swept a Saturday doubleheader from the Lansing Lugnuts (12-22, 41-57), 9-0 and 6-4, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
Wisconsin has won four of the first five games of the series, clinching a series victory.
In Game 1, Lansing starter Steven Echavarria allowed a solo home run to the second batter he faced, Braylon Payne, but responded by striking out six batters - including Payne - while blanking the Timber Rattlers into the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, a two-out fielding error by third baseman Daniel Bucciero opened the door for Wisconsin to score five unearned runs, and the T-Rats added three more in the sixth against Mitch Myers to turn the game into a rout.
Wisconsin right-hander Josh Knoth struck out seven batters in six impregnable innings, combining with José Nova on four-hit shutout.
In Game 2, the Timber Rattlers jumped on Lansing lefty Tucker Novotny for four runs in the first five batters, climaxed by a Luis Castillo three-run homer.
Novotny, pitching in front of several dozen close family members loudly cheering and waving handmade signs, bore down and recorded the next 10 outs without trouble, departing the game after 3 2/3 innings.
Gunner Gouldsmith took care of the offense singlehandedly, tying the game at 4-4 with a two-run single in the second inning and a two-run double in the fourth off Wisconsin starter Jayden Dubanewicz.
But Luis Lameda broke the tie with a two-out, two-run double off Riley Huge in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Lansing was unable to rally in the seventh.
In the loss, catcher Logan Sauve finished the game 2-for-2 with a single, double and HBP.
One game remains in the six-game set, pitting Lansing right-hander Samuel Dutton against Wisconsin right-hander Ethan Dorchies on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Central / 2:10 p.m. Eastern.
The Lugnuts then return home from August 4-9, hosting the Lake County Captains. For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.
Midwest League Stories from August 1, 2026
- Bats Lead Quad Cities to Sweep of Twin Bill, Series Win over Dayton - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cubs Pummel Captains, 10-3, Win Fourth Consecutive Game and Series - South Bend Cubs
- Chiefs Take Two from the Kernels, 6-5 and 13-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Chiefs Sweep Doubleheader Behind Peete's Cycle, Encarnación's Heroics - Peoria Chiefs
- Captains Fall to Cubs, 10-3, Drop Fourth-Straight Game - Lake County Captains
- River Bandits Sweep Doubleheader from Dragons on Saturday Night in Iowa - Dayton Dragons
- Despite Gouldsmith's Heroics, Lugnuts Drop Twin Bill - Lansing Lugnuts
- Lameda's Late Hit Leads Wisconsin to Twinbill Sweep - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps and Loons Suspended on Saturday Night - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dogmen-TinCaps Game Suspended, Doubleheader Tomorrow - Great Lakes Loons
- Snowbirds, Sky Carp Scrapped on Saturday - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Knoth and the Rattlers Knock Out Lansing in Game One - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Mahoney Placed on 7-Day IL - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Game Information: August 1 vs. Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers Affiliate) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Saturday (6:30 PM DH at Quad Cities) - Dayton Dragons
- Cedar Rapids Kernels Announce 2027 Home Schedule - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Captains Drop Third Straight Game, Fall to Cubs 15-7 - Lake County Captains
- South Bend Offense Relentless Again in 15-7 Rout of Captains - South Bend Cubs
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