Lugnuts' Comeback Bid Falls Short, 7-6
May 22, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING, Mich. - For the third straight day, the Great Lakes Loons built a sizeable lead. For the third straight day, Lansing Lugnuts rallied late. And for the third straight day, the Loons prevailed.
Brett de Geus retired Ryan Gold on a pop-up to shortstop with the tying and winning runs aboard, and the Eastern Division-leading Loons (28-15) overcame five errors to hold off the Lugnuts (18-26), 7-6, on Wednesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The result followed Monday's series opener, which saw the Lugnuts rally from a 7-3 seventh-inning deficit only to fall in ten innings, 8-7, and Tuesday's matinee, in which the Lugnuts cut a 7-0 deficit to 7-6 and a 9-6 deficit to 9-8 before losing, 11-8.
On Wednesday, Leonel Valera and Niko Hulsizer hit two-run homers in a five-run Loons third inning, giving Great Lakes a 5-1 lead - only to see the Lugnuts push a run across in the third and two runs plateward in the fourth to pull within 5-4.
The Loons built their lead back to 7-4 on Romer Cuadrado's two-run single in the top of the fifth, forcing the Lugnuts back on their perpetual comeback trail.
In the seventh inning, Reggie Pruit reached on a fielder's choice, stole second - his third stolen base of the game and his league-leading 21st steal, moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Jair Camargo, and scored on a wild pitch by reliever Justin Hagenman (Win, 3-1) to trim the Loons' lead to 7-5.
In the ninth inning, the Nuts made their final push. Tanner Kirwer led off with a single, and Nick Podkul and Luis De Los Santos drew back-to-back one-out walks from Austin Drury to load the bases. The Loons brought in de Geus (Save, 2), who induced Jake Brodt to hit a fielder's choice to third, scoring Kirwer to bring the Lugnuts within a run. Gold then popped up to shortstop Jacob Amaya to end the game.
Lugnuts starting pitcher Sean Wymer (Loss, 2-4) allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings, striking out three. He was followed to the mound by Jackson Rees, who fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing four hits and one walk, and Cre Finfrock, who tossed a perfect ninth with a strikeout.
In the victory, the Loons' Camargo and third baseman Miguel Vargas each committed two errors, and first baseman Dillon Paulson committed an error of his own - the second game in the series in which the Loons' defense was charged with five errors.
The Lugnuts will look to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Loons on a Labatt Blue Thirsty Thursday / Beer Mile, featuring $1/$2/$3 draft beer specials and $3 wine specials, with gates opening at 6:00 p.m. and first pitch at 7:05 p.m. between Lansing right-hander Fitz Stadler (5.40 ERA) and Loons right-hander Stephen Kolek (5.45). To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
Midwest League Stories from May 22, 2019
- Captains Escape, Edge Dragons in 10 - Lake County Captains
- Let the Good Times Roll - Great Lakes Loons
- Captains Escape Late Trouble, Edge Dragons in 10 Innings, 3-2 - Dayton Dragons
- Lugnuts' Comeback Bid Falls Short, 7-6 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Wisconsin Takes Third Straight with 7-2 Win Over Peoria - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Mistakes Help Wisconsin Win Wednesday - Peoria Chiefs
- Tonight's Game Suspended - Beloit Sky Carp
- Kernels Toss No-Hitter in Twin Bill Split - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Thomas, Explosive Offense Carry Cougars - Kane County Cougars
- Remy Dazzles, But Cubs Topped by TinCaps 3-1 - South Bend Cubs
- Bandits Leave 13 on Base in 9-3 Loss to Cougars - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Fort Wayne Pitching Wows Again, and TinCaps Win Again - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Hot Rods Gut out 3-2 Win on Wednesday - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Wolf, Whitecaps Take Tough-Luck Loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- CareSource, Dragons Team up to Honor Local Veterans - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- Stay Late Saturdays Back By Popular Demand - Clinton LumberKings
- RHP Jayson Schroeder transferred from extended spring training to Quad Cities - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- TinCaps Game Notes: May 22 vs. South Bend (Game 43) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Captains Split with Dayton - Lake County Captains
- It's Fry-Day as the Rattlers Walkoff Peoria for Doubleheader Sweep - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Blow Late Lead, Swept in Double Header - Peoria Chiefs
- Cubs Whitewashed for Second Time this Season, Lose 1-0 - South Bend Cubs
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.
