Nuts’ pitching blanks Chiefs 5-0 in finale

LANSING, Mich. – Tucker Novotny, Griffin Kirn, Mitch Myers and Luis Carrasco combined for a two-hit shutout, and the Lansing Lugnuts’ (24-29, 53-64) offense collected 11 hits in a 5-0 victory over the Peoria Chiefs (24-29, 56-63) in a series finale on Sunday afternoon at JacksonⓇ Field™.

The Lugnuts have won five of six games in both of their last two home series and have taken 13 of their last 15 contests in Lansing.

The Chiefs, conversely, did not score over their final 15 2/3 innings, dating back to the eighth inning of Friday’s game.

In his second start of the week, Novotny blanked the Chiefs through five, striking out six and allowing just two hits and two walks.

“I saw Tucker really get a slider going,” pitching coach Levi Kelly said. “Last outing when he faced these guys on Tuesday, he was mostly fastball/changeup, so he kind of switched his approach, granted they're gonna see him twice this week, and I thought that was a great plan. Switched his approach, more fastball slider tonight and then leaned on the changeup when needed.”

Kirn entered in the sixth and kept Peoria off the bases through the seventh before Myers pitched a perfect eighth and Carrasco completed the shutout with a perfect ninth.

In the second inning, Bryan Arendt worked an 11-pitch at-bat that ended in a fielder’s choice and the batter safely at first. Gunner Gouldsmith followed with a double that bounced over first baseman Michael Dattalo and advanced Arendt to third, and Rodney Green Jr. plated both runners with an RBI double to left for a 2-0 Lugnuts lead.

Rodney Green, Jr. hustles into second with a two-run double. pic.twitter.com/GOQOos0tPb

— Jesse Goldberg-Strassler (@jgoldstrass) August 24, 2026

With one out in the fourth, Gouldsmith hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot off starter Brian Holiday to right field to give Lansing a 3-0 lead.

“I think it was 2-2, a 2-2 slider low and in,” Gouldsmith said. “Just saw it good out of the hand and put my best swing on it.”

From yesterday: Gunner Gouldsmith launched his 5th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/b0KPHZnG4E

— Jesse Goldberg-Strassler (@jgoldstrass) August 24, 2026

In the seventh, Jared Davis led off the home inning with a single to right before taking second on a throwing error by reliever Patrick Galle on a pickoff attempt. Arendt knocked his teammate home with an RBI double down the left field line for a 4-0 advantage. After a wild pitch moved Arendt to third and Gouldsmith drew a walk, Green drove in Arendt to put the seal on the 5-0 win.

In the winning effort, all but one Lugnut finished with a hit. Gouldsmith, Green and Breyson Guedez each finished with two hits, Green collected three RBIs and Gouldsmith and Arendt each scored two runs.

Jake Reinisch finished 1-for-4 with a walk to extend his team-high on-base streak to 34 games.

After the Midwest League off day on Monday, the Lugnuts travel to Midland for the final away series of the season, a six-game bout against the Los Angeles Dodgers-affiliate Great Lakes Loons from Aug. 25-30.

Gouldsmith’s message to the team after the game was about spoiling the Loons’ playoff chances.

“Playing spoiler is (a) very fun part in baseball when you're kinda not in contention necessarily,” Gouldsmith said. “So just being able to go in there, at their yard, with a little chip on your shoulder, give yourself a little edge to go ahead and kind of play for something even though you're not necessarily playing for a ton.”

Lansing will then return to JacksonⓇ Field™ to host the San Diego Padres-affiliate Fort Wayne TinCaps in the last series of 2026, Sept. 1-6. For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.

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