Sports stats



MWL Lansing Lugnuts

Simpson Drives in Six in Lugs' Slugfest Victory

August 16, 2024 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


LANSING, Mich. - Midwest League runs batted in leader Will Simpson swatted a three-run homer amid a six-RBI performance, and the Lansing Lugnuts (21-25, 53-58) built a seven-run lead, lost it, and recovered to overwhelm the West Michigan Whitecaps (26-19, 57-54), 13-8, in front of 7,851 on Friday night at Jackson® Field™.

The game - which was concluded in two hours and 57 minutes - saw 30 combined hits, with all 18 batters collecting at least one hit.

Simpson blasted his 15th home run of the year in the first inning, T.J. Schofield-Sam knocked a two-run homer in a three-run third inning, and Simpson added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, as the Lugnuts built a 7-0 lead against West Michigan starter Joe Miller.

The Whitecaps struck back quickly, knocking out Nuts starter Luis Morales with a four-run fifth and following up with a three-run sixth against Garrett Irvin to tie the game at 7-7.

But Danny Bautista, Jr. led off the home sixth inning with a triple against Erick Pinales, and Jonny Butler brought him in with an RBI single to put the Nuts into the lead for good. After a walk to Ryan Lasko, the Nuts executed a double steal during a Jared Dickey strikeout, putting Butler and Lasko in position to score on a single by Simpson, increasing his league-leading RBI total to 79. Nate Nankil capped the rally by singling in Simpson for an 11-7 lead.

After the Whitecaps scored a run in the eighth against Yehizon Sanchez on a Seth Stephenson sac fly, a Dickey RBI triple and a second Nankil RBI single concluded the scoring in the bottom of the eighth.

Nankil finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, giving him seven hits in his last nine at-bats and increasing his batting average with Lansing to .379 in 15 games. Leadoff hitter Butler went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored.

The Lugnuts go for a third straight win over the Whitecaps on Saturday, with gates opening at 6 p.m. for a 7:05 p.m. start and featuring postgame LAFCU Fireworks! Right-hander Jake Garland takes on West Michigan ace Jaden Hamm in the starting matchup. For tickets and further information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.


• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...

Midwest League Stories from August 16, 2024


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