Fien homer launches Nuts to second walk-off of the series

LANSING, Mich. – After being down by as many as five runs, a two-out Dylan Fien two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth launched the Lansing Lugnuts (22-28) to a 7-6 walk-off win over the West Michigan Whitecaps (16-34) on Saturday night at JacksonⓇ Field™.

Lansing has celebrated two walk-offs in the series against the Whitecaps; Rodney Green, Jr., was responsible for the first with a slide into home plate on an Ali Camarillo fielder’s choice for a 2-1 win in Tuesday’s opener.

DYLAN FIEN WALKS OFF THE WHITECAPS pic.twitter.com/LyT2iPK1LM

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 31, 2026

On Saturday, Lansing trailed 5-0 after two innings and 6-2 after seven, but scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Carlos Franco RBI groundout and a Ben Newton RBI single.

Casey Yamauchi led off the final inning against Jalen Evans with an infield single to shortstop, beating the throw to first from Bryce Rainer. Evans stuck out Green, wild-pitched Yamauchi to second, and struck out Ali Camarilloto take Lansing down to its final out. A Devin Taylor RBI single scored Yamauchi.

On the next pitch, Fien walked it off with his third home run of the season into the grass behind the right-field wall, sending the crowd and his team into a frenzied celebration.

“I wasn't really trying to get too big or do anything too much,” Fien said. “I was just trying to extend the inning, possibly get Devin in, but most importantly just extend the inning, and then (I) happened to get a good pitch and did some damage, and it was game from there.

“That was definitely one of the coolest baseball experiences I've had. Never really had a walk-off home run in my life. Only had one or two walk-offs in general in my life, so that was pretty cool.”

Manager Javier Godard said he got goosebumps watching Fien enjoy the experience.

“I know how much it meant for Dylan, and I feel for the kid,” Godard said. “He works so hard every day, and he doesn't stop working hard. …  I'm feeling what he's feeling right now, just emotion. This is why we do this.”

A Rainer two-run double followed by a Jackson Strong sacrifice fly scored three in the first inning for the Whitecaps, and a Garrett Pennington two-run double in the second built a quick 5-0 lead as West Michigan blitzed Lansing starter Tzu-Chen Sha.

West Michigan’s only other run, also credited to Sha, came in the seventh inning with a bases-loaded walk by relief pitcher Luis Carrasco.

Green gave Lansing its first run of the ballgame with a big swing in the bottom of the third, launching his team-leading sixth home run of the season, and second of the series, over the right-field wall. The team’s second run came on a Nate Nankil RBI single in the sixth.

After the second, Sha pitched four scoreless innings before allowing the final run in the seventh. In total, he allowed nine hits, six runs and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

“He made (a) big adjustment,” Godard said. “He started to be a little more aggressive and hitting the corners and getting hitters off balance. So with the same velocity, he was just commanding his fastball better and landing his breaking ball for the strike or down in the zone when he needed to.”

Carrasco and Ryan Brown combined for a scoreless final three innings to allow the Lugnuts to rally.

Yamauchi led the offense, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Nankil posted his first multi-hit game since May 3, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Franco had his first multi-hit game since April 8, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double.

After breaking an 0-for-21 slump on Friday, Fien went 1-for-4 on Saturday with one walk, two RBIs and two runs scored.

“Just some things at the plate that I was having a really hard time trying to figure out and kind of get the kinks out,” Fien said. “But I've been working a lot in the cages, on the field with the coaches and all that, just trying to get back on track. And in the game, just try and go up there free, not really worry about past results, and just take it one AB (at-bat) at a time.”

“I think today was the start of something special,” Godard said. “I mean, this kid, like I said, he works so hard, and his work ethic is awesome.”

The Lugnuts will finish up the series on Sunday with starter Nathan Dettmer opposing West Michigan left-hander Gabriel Reyes. Gates open at 12 p.m. for Capital City Market Kids Day, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

“This is a builder for setting the tone for not only finishing up tomorrow, but also for next week,” Godard said. “It let us know that we got this, you know? And we're facing Great Lakes. Yeah, they're leading the division, but that doesn't mean anything, you know? We're going right after ‘em.”

For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.

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