Morales Cools off Fort Wayne to Earn First Pro Win
Published on May 23, 2024 under Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Top Oakland Athletics pitching prospect Luis Morales set new career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts to win his first professional game, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (21-21) to an 8-2 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (19-23) on Thursday night at Parkview Field.
The win put a simultaneous end to Lansing's three-game losing streak and Fort Wayne's seven-game winning streak.
The 21-year-old Morales allowed only a first inning run, scored on a single, a stolen base, and two wild pitches. He dominated from there, striking out eight batters in all while spreading four singles and a walk in each of his five innings. The right-hander from Antilla, Cuba, finished with a whiff of 17-year-old Ethan Salas, his second strikeout of the Padres' wunderkind.
The Lugnuts' offense, meanwhile, seized control with a three-run fourth against Fort Wayne starter Miguel Cienfuegos, adding two runs against Cienfuegos in the sixth, two against reliever Mitchell Miller in the seventh, and closing out with a Will Simpson 's third home run of the year in the ninth off Joan Gonzalez.
Euribiel Ángeles, himself a Fort Wayne TinCap back in 2021, led Lansing's 12-hit attack with three singles in five at-bats, and Cameron Masterman (2-for-4, RBI single, double); Brayan Buelvas (2-for-5, single, RBI triple) and Danny Bautista, Jr. (2-for-4, RBI single) added multi-hit efforts.
Luis Carrasco followed Morales with three scoreless two-hit innings, striking out one. Colton Johnson pitched the ninth, allowing a solo home run to Tyler Robertson in the ninth to close the scoring.
Reigning Midwest League Hitter of the Week Henry Bolte departed the game early, finishing 1-for-3 with a single, a walk and a run scored.
The Nuts go for two straight against the TinCaps at 7:05 p.m. Friday, sending right-hander Jacob Watters against Padres prospect Henry Baez.
The Lugnuts next return home from May 28-June 2 to host Peoria. For tickets and further information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.
Midwest League Stories from May 23, 2024
- Bats Struggle in Bandits' 6-1 Loss to Dragons - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Winning Streak Ends at 7 on Wizards Night with Sellout Crowd - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Liranzo Walks off Sky Carp for Second Straight Game - Great Lakes Loons
- Culpepper, Yanez Combine for Eight Perfect Innings as Cedar Rapids Tops Peoria 8-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- West Michigan's Comeback Spoils Peterson's Gem in 4-1 Lake County Loss - Lake County Captains
- Chiefs Break up Perfect Game Bid in Ninth, Fall 8-5 - Peoria Chiefs
- Dean Shuts Down 'Rattlers in Debut, Cubs Win 4-3 - South Bend Cubs
- Sky Carp Fall to Loons in Extra Innings - Beloit Sky Carp
- Wisconsin's Rally Falls Short in South Bend - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Pacheco's Blast Sinks Captains, 4-1 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Rivera Strikes Out 11 in Dragons' 6-1 Win on Thursday - Dayton Dragons
- Morales Cools off Fort Wayne to Earn First Pro Win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Homestand Highlights: May 28-June 2 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps Game Information: May 23 vs. Lansing Lugnuts (A's) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Top Guardians Prospect Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson Joins Lake County Captains, Set to Make High-A Debut this Saturday - Lake County Captains
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Thursday (7:30 PM at Quad Cities) - Dayton Dragons
- Emshoff's Big Night Leads Quad Cities in Split of Doubleheader - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Captains Slug Season-High 18 Hits, Devers Homers Twice in 12-3 Win - Lake County Captains
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.
