Oh Thank Heaven: Lugnuts Triumph, 11-7
June 12, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Griffin Conine turned in his latest dominant offensive performance with a two-HR, five-RBI night, Joey Pulido posted four scoreless innings of relief, and the Lansing Lugnuts (29-34) scored nine unanswered runs to seize the opening game of a four-game series at Four Winds Field, 11-7, over the South Bend Cubs (33-30) on Tuesday night.
The Lugnuts improved to 5-3 on their 11-game, 10-day road trip, with only Wednesday's doubleheader and Thursday's series finale remaining.
Chicago Cubs No. 4 prospect Cole Roederer drilled a two-run double in a three-run third inning, helping the Cubs take a 5-2 lead against starter Troy Miller.
The next nine runs all belonged to the Lugnuts.
Conine's fifth home run of the year, a two-run blast to right off South Bend starter Faustino Carrera, brought the Nuts within 5-4 in the fifth inning.
The Cubs pulled Carrera after six innings in favor of All-Star reliever Jeff Passantino (Loss, 2-1) - and the floodgates opened. Reggie Pruitt led off with his league-leading sixth triple and Nick Podkul singled him in to tie the score at 5-5. Conine followed with a thunderous 430-foot homer over the batter's eye in center for a 7-5 lead. Ryan Gold doubled, completing the four-batter cycle, and then Midwest League Player of the Week Hagen Danner slugged his own two-run homer to left, his ninth home run of the year and fifth longball of the road trip, for a stunning 9-5 lead.
The Lugnuts added two unearned runs in the eighth against reliever Sean Barry before they were quieted by infielder Rafael Narea in a 1-2-3 ninth.
On the other side, it was Pulido (Win, 2-2) who carried the load. The former Houston Cougar took over for Miller (4 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts) to start the fifth inning and proceeded to blank the Cubs through the eighth, striking out five and allowing only three singles.
South Bend scored two runs against Cre Finfrock in the ninth to close out the scoring.
Conine finished the game 4-for-5 with three runs scored, a double, two homers, and five RBIs, lifting his slash line to .438/.481/1.000. He has 48 total bases in 12 games with the Lugnuts, thanks to 13 extra-base hits.
Leadoff hitter Pruitt also scored three runs, joining Podkul, Gold and Danner with two-hit performances.
Right-handers Sean Wymer (7.57 ERA) and Fitz Stadler (5.56) receive the starting assignments for Wednesday's twinbill, beginning at 5:05 p.m. South Bend counters with All-Star right-hander Riley Thompson (2.39) and spot-starting lefty Jack Patterson (3.07).
Lansing returns to Michigan's state capital for a three-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods from June 14-16, including Star Wars Night with post-game LAFCU Fireworks on Saturday, July 15th. To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets to Sunday or throughout the 2019 season, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from June 12, 2019
- Cubs and Lugnuts Split Wednesday's Doubleheader 6-4, 6-2 - South Bend Cubs
- Lugs Split Doubleheader in South Bend - Lansing Lugnuts
- Encarnacion Homers in LumberKings Win - Clinton LumberKings
- Witherspoon Homers in 5-3 Loss on Wednesday Night - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Chiefs Fall 3-2 Wednesday - Peoria Chiefs
- Game Postponed Until Tomorrow - Beloit Sky Carp
- Rain Postpones Bandits Game in Beloit - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Whiffer's Fitness Club All Set for 2019 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps Game Notes: June 12 at Bowling Green (Game 64) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Playoff Bound Once Again - Great Lakes Loons
- Cedar Rapids Rallies Past Wisconsin - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Bechtold, Martinez Highlight 4-3 Win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Cougars Slip in Wild Card Race - Kane County Cougars
- Loons Blank Captains to Clinch Playoff Berth - Lake County Captains
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Dragons Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- Cougars Beat Bees 10-4 in Road Opener - Burlington Bees
- Participants Announced for Donald Driver Charity Softball Game Presented by Network Health - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Snappers can't complete comeback in slugfest loss to Quad Cities - Beloit Sky Carp
- Bandits Register 20 Hits, Hang on Late for 10-9 Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Oh Thank Heaven: Lugnuts Triumph, 11-7 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cubs Drop Opener against Lugnuts 11-7 - 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.
Other Recent Lansing Lugnuts Stories
- Tree-Planting Ceremony Highlights Lugnuts/MACD Celebration of Arbor Day
- Ángeles Stays Hot in 5-2 Win at Lake County
- Buelvas Homers in 3rd Straight Game, But Captains Hold off Lugs
- Thirsty Thursday Postponed, Thirsty Saturday Doubleheader Scheduled
- Wright Placed on Injured List