Nuts tally 6 in 6th to drop Dayton

LANSING, Mich. – Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lansing Lugnuts (9-9) took advantage of a pair of errors to score six runs, rolling to a 9-4 victory over the Dayton Dragons (7-11) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™.

The Lugnuts have scored 20 runs over the last two nights, both victories, after dropping the series opener.

Cam Collier’s two-run double in the first inning and a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning had put Dayton up by three behind the fine pitching of starter Kevin Abel, who whiffed seven while limiting the Lugnuts to a first-inning Will Simpson RBI single.

But Brayan Buelvas greeted reliever Joseph Menefee in the sixth inning with a double, Jonny Butler walked, and the two executed a double steal. After a flyout, Cam Masterman walked to load the bases. CJ Rodriguez grounded to Collier at third base, a potential inning-ending double-play ball, but the 19-year-old’s throw to second was inaccurate, leaving Dayton unable to record an out as Buelvas scored to bring Lansing within 4-2. Jose Escorche promptly lined a two-run single to left to tie the game. Colby Halter followed with a fly ball to left field that Yan Contreras dropped, allowing two more runs to score. Two batters later, Simpson supplied another RBI single up the middle, capping the rally and putting Lansing up 7-4.

A Jonny Butler two-run single off Luis Mey in the eighth wrapped up the scoring.

The Lugnuts’ pitching effort was led by Jacob Watters, who tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Wander Guante, striking out two and recording eight outs on the ground.

Watters departed due to pitch count after a walk to Contreras in the ninth. Yehizon Sanchez dispatched Jay Allen II on a popout to short to end the game.

In the win, first baseman Simpson went 3-for-4 with a walk – his second straight game with three hits – to raise his batting average to .385 and his on-base percentage to .535. Both rank second in the Midwest League, and his 18 walks drawn ranks first. The 2023 15th-rounder has reached base in all 16 games he has played.

On Friday, the Lugnuts celebrate Arbor Day with a special pregame Tree-Planting Ceremony presented by Van Atta’s at 5:20 p.m., plus a concourse carnival and postgame Native White Pine seedling giveaway. Gates open at 5 p.m. for a 6:05 p.m. start, featuring Lansing right-hander Blaze Pontes against Dayton right-hander Rhett Lowder. Tickets are available for purchase at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

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