MWL Lansing Lugnuts

Pitching and Defense Propel Nuts to Third Straight Win

Published on August 12, 2022 under Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


DAYTON, OH - No cliché here: Behind strong pitching and great defense, the Lansing Lugnuts (17-23, 42-64) beat the Dayton Dragons (12-26, 51-53) for the third straight game, 3-2, on Friday night at Day Air Ballpark.

It is the first time this season that Lansing has won three consecutive road games.

The Lugnuts collected a total of three hits against four Dragons pitchers: a one-out double in the first inning by Max Muncy, who stole third and was wild-pitched home by Dayton starter Steve Hajjar for a 1-0 lead; a leadoff single by Jared McDonald in the second inning, who was left stranded; and a one-out single by Shane McGuire in the ninth inning, who was left stranded.

But after the Dragons tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a Brian Rey RBI single off Lansing starter Jake Walkinshaw, the Nuts took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth against Frainger Aranguren.

Joshwan Wright walked, was wild-pitched to second, and scored on a Patrick McColl fly ball dropped in left field by Ashton Creal. McColl then scored on another wild pitch for a 3-1 lead.

Back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning from Steven Leyton and Ashton Creal drew the Dragons within one, but they could get no closer. Walkinshaw wrapped up a five-inning stint with his seventh and eighth strikeouts, stranding runners at second and third, and then the defense took over.

With reliever Joe DeMers on the mound in the sixth, left fielder Lazaro Armenteros made a running catch in deep left field that led him into the wall, robbing Mat Nelson of extra bases, and second baseman Cooper Bowman made a barehanded play of a ball that ricocheted off DeMers's glove to rob Leyton of a base hit.

In the bottom of the seventh, Armenteros made a diving catch on a Creal sinking line drive and Sahid Valenzuela ranged into foul territory deep behind third base to throw out Noelvi Marte on a grounder, completing a second scoreless inning for DeMers.

And with the tying run aboard in the ninth, right fielder Joshwan Wright made a sliding catch on a fly ball from pinch hitter Austin Hendrick and then a running grab on a Creal slicer down the line to record the final two outs of the game.

The Lugnuts look for the series win and a fourth consecutive victory on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., sending right-hander Kyle Virbitsky (3.38 ERA) against debuting Dayton right-hander Javi Rivera.

The Nuts play the Dragons through Sunday at Day Air Ballpark before returning to Lansing for a six-game series with Great Lakes from August 16-21. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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Midwest League Stories from August 12, 2022


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