González's change and Wilson's power help Lugnuts edge Dragons
DAYTON, OH – James González struck out seven batters in five innings and Jacob Wilson’s first professional home run proved important, supplying the winning margin in the Lansing Lugnuts’ (22-29) 3-2 victory over the Dayton Dragons (27-24, 60-57) on Thursday night at Day Air Ballpark. Wilson homered in the ninth
DAYTON, OH – James González struck out seven batters in five innings and Jacob Wilson’s first professional home run proved important, supplying the winning margin in the Lansing Lugnuts’ (22-29) 3-2 victory over the Dayton Dragons (27-24, 60-57) on Thursday night at Day Air Ballpark.
Wilson homered in the ninth inning off a Jayvien Sandridge 3-2 pitch, a 391-foot solo shot launched down the left field line over the Dragons’ Lair porch to add insurance to a 2-1 Lugnuts lead.
Jacob Wilson, HR no. 1⃣ in professional baseball.
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 25, 2023
The winning run in tonight's 3-2 Lugnuts victory.#GoNuts 🔩 https://t.co/ulTwyhND0W pic.twitter.com/eAWqEl6DKa
But in the bottom of the ninth inning, it was the shortstop’s own throwing error that opened the door to an unearned run off Charles Hall that brought the Dragons back within a run.
With the potential tying run at second base, Hall struck out Carlos Jorge and retired Edwin Arroyo on a groundout to third to end the game and notch his third save.
Jacob Wilson (#Athletics) had the second-highest hit tool grade in the 2023 Draft class.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 25, 2023
In the midst of his sixth High-A multihit night, MLB's No. 81 prospect added a pro first to his ledger: https://t.co/EtbjFpupW6 pic.twitter.com/rmy6PtkY8e
The game began with the mastery of González, who baffled Dayton hitters again and again with a nasty change-up on his way to striking out the side in the first and second innings.
A bases-loaded walk issued to Brennan Milone by Dayton starter Hunter Parks gave the Lugnuts a 1-0 lead in the second inning, and Milone doubled it in the fourth inning thanks to errors committed by shortstop Arroyo and second baseman Jorge sandwiched around a Parks balk.
González worked his way through five innings, his shutout marred in the final frame by an Arroyo sacrifice fly.
Mac Lardner then blanked the Dragons through the sixth and seventh, striking out three, and Brock Whittlesey handled a scoreless eighth before handing the ball to Hall for the ninth.
In the win, catcher Daniel Susac reached base five times on two singles and three walks plus two stolen bases, and Euribiel Ángeles added a pair of steals while going 2-for-3 with an HBP.
The Lugnuts look for a second straight win in the six-game series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m., sending right-hander Jake Garland to the hill.
The Nuts return to Michigan’s state capital for their final homestand of the year from August 29 through September 3 against the West Michigan Whitecaps. Tickets are available at the box office, via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500.
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