MWL Lansing Lugnuts

Three's No Charm as Cubs Shut out Lugnuts

Published on May 3, 2024 under Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


LANSING, Mich. - On the 3rd of May, the Lansing Lugnuts (11-14) grounded into three double plays, had three runners caught stealing, committed three errors and lost 3-0 to the South Bend Cubs (9-16) in two hours and three minutes on Friday night at Jackson® Field™ .

The Cubs have won three of the first four games in the series.

Lansing starter Grant Judkins struck out five batters in a season high five innings, including four consecutive strikeouts from the second inning into the third inning. But with two outs in the third, a two-base fielding error by Jose Escorche at second allowed Reivaj Garcia to reach. Cubs third baseman Pedro Ramirez followed with a two-run homer to right, his first home run of the season.

Jake Garland followed Judkins with three scoreless innings, keeping the deficit at 2-0 until the ninth, when a Colton Johnson throwing error put Jonathon Long in position to score on a Rafael Morel RBI single.

The Lugnuts, meanwhile, collected five hits and drew five walks, but repeatedly had scoring threats quashed.

In the second inning, a walk to Cameron Masterman and singles by Colby Halter and Danny Bautista, Jr. loaded the bases against Drew Gray, but CJ Rodriguez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

In the third inning, Jose Escorche drew a leadoff walk from Gray. But center fielder Rafael Morel made a sensational catch of a drive by Jonny Butler deep into the right-center gap, and Escorche was subsequently caught stealing.

In the fourth inning, Will Simpson led off with a double against Gray but Brayan Buelvas flied out to the wall in left-center and Simpson was then caught stealing third.

In the sixth inning, Henry Bolte coaxed a one-out walk from Coen Moreno, but was caught stealing second.

In the seventh inning, Moreno walked both Buelvas and Halter but induced Bautista, Jr. to grounded into a double play to end the inning.

In the eighth, Rodriguez greeted new reliever Jose Romero with a double, but was stranded at third.

And in the bottom of the ninth, Simpson opened with a walk from Romero and was promptly erased by a Buelvas double-play grounder.

The fifth game of the series will pit Lansing right-hander Mitch Myers against South Bend right-hander Luis Devers, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and a 6:05 p.m. start on Lugnut Comic - Con featuring a free comic book giveaway! T ickets are available for purchase at the Jackson ® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

Check out the Lansing Lugnuts Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 3, 2024


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