Bullpen fires blanks as Nuts best Loons
LANSING, Mich. – Brennan Milone and Junior Pérez homered and three relievers combined for six scoreless innings, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (20-27, 51-61) past the Great Lakes Loons (22-25, 67-45), 7-5, in front of 7,780 on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts have won three of the first five
LANSING, Mich. – Brennan Milone and Junior Pérez homered and three relievers combined for six scoreless innings, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (20-27, 51-61) past the Great Lakes Loons (22-25, 67-45), 7-5, in front of 7,780 on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™.
The Lugnuts have won three of the first five games in the six-game series, clinching a season series victory against the Loons with their 11th win in 20 meetings, leaving one more contest to play. They are the only the team in the Midwest League to have a winning record against Great Lakes.
Brennan Milone, 430 feet, bombs away!#GoNuts 🔩 pic.twitter.com/FhhfJHpozs
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 20, 2023
Debuting Lansing starter Yehizon Sanchez was tagged for three runs in the first inning and solo home runs by Yeiner Fernandez in the third and Chris Alleyne in the fourth.
But the Nuts responded against Loons starter Jerming Rosario with a run in the second inning, four runs in the third – capped by a three-run homer from Milone – and a tie-breaking solo shot from Pérez in the fourth off Mitchell Tyranski, the center fielder’s ninth home run of the season.
Junior Pérez rockets the Lugnuts into the lead!#GoNuts 🔩 pic.twitter.com/X4GAcLaDGa
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 20, 2023
Danny Bautista, Jr. added insurance in the fifth with an RBI single, leaving the rest of the game to the bullpen. They were up for the challenge.
Kumar Nambiar fired three scoreless innings, striking out four while limiting the Loons to a pair of hits. Mac Lardner took care of the next 1 2/3 innings, allowing a walk and a single. Stevie Emanuels recorded the final 1 1/3 for his fourth save of the year, finishing the game by a coaxing a double-play ball from Kenneth Betancourt.
Junior Pérez is putting on a show!
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 20, 2023
A home run earlier, and now showing off the arm, hosing Chris Alleyne at 3rd!#GoNuts 🔩 pic.twitter.com/gmML3XvdXE
In the win, center fielder Pérez went 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run, walk two runs scored and an outfield assist. Daniel Susac and Euribiel Ángeles added two hits and a walk apiece.
The Nuts and Loons wrap up the series with a 1:05 p.m. Sunday matinee on a Capital City Kids Day celebrating Big Lug’s Birthday Party! Gates open at noon, with postgame Kids Run the Bases and an Extra Inning featuring free ice cream and music across Michigan Ave. at Capital City Market. Tickets are available at the stadium box office, via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500.
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