MWL1 Lansing Lugnuts

Lingos, Captains Stymie Lugnuts, 6-3

Published on June 26, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


LANSING, Mich. - Henry Pujols and Hosea Nelson hit back-to-back home runs in a pivotal seventh inning to back Eli Lingos's five scoreless innings of relief, helping the Lake County Captains (5-1, 45-30) double up the Lansing Lugnuts (3-3, 35-40), 6-3, in a Wednesday matinee at Cooley Law School Stadium.

In the loss, Lugnuts shortstop Otto Lopez went 1-for-4 to extend his team-high on-base streak to 27 games.

Hunter Steinmetz homered in the third inning, his first Midwest League roundtripper, and drove in a run in the fourth inning with a fielder's choice to give the Lugnuts a 2-1 lead. Hagen Danner followed by stealing home on the back end of a double steal for a 3-1 lead against Lake County starter Thomas Ponticelli.

That, as it turned out, was all for the Lugs' offense. Left-hander Lingos (Win, 2-0) relieved Ponticelli beginning the fifth inning and recorded the final 15 outs scorelessly, working around three hits and three walks while striking out five.

Pujols drew the Captains within 3-2 with an RBI double off Lansing starter Troy Watson in the fifth.

Joey Pulido (Blown Save, 1; Loss, 2-3) blanked the Caps in the sixth before Pujols launched his first home run of the year with one out in the seventh, tying the score at 3-3. Nelson followed with his second home run of the game, pushing the visitors into the lead. It was the first time that the Nuts had allowed back-to-back home runs since Bowling Green's Trey Hair and Ronaldo Hernandez achieved the feat on October 22, 2018.

Justin Watts made his Lugnuts debut with a scoreless eighth inning before the Captains closed out the game with two runs against Juan Nuñez in the ninth.

Lake County's Nelson finished the game with a walk, a single, two homers and three runs scored in the win. Steinmetz and Gabriel Moreno each went 2-for-4 in defeat.

The third game of the four-game series is Salute to Canadian Tuxedos / Labatt Blue Thirsty Thursday with $1/$2/$3 draft beer specials and $3 wine at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Lugnuts right-hander Cobi Johnson (5.18 ERA) duels with Captains right-hander Alex Royalty (4.10) in the starting matchup. To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com, call (517) 485-4500 or come to the Cooley Law School Stadium box office at 505 E. Michigan Ave. in downtown Lansing.




Midwest League Stories from June 26, 2019


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.

OurSports Central