Harmon blanks Lugnuts, 4-0

DAYTON, OH – Johnathan Harmon tossed seven scoreless innings, Victor Acosta lined a two-run homer, and the Dayton Dragons (27-27) shut out the Lansing Lugnuts (28-26), 4-0, on Thursday night at Day Air Ballpark.

The game was completed in two hours and five minutes.

Sal Stewart provided a sacrifice fly in the first inning off Lansing starter Will Johnston, Acosta followed two innings later with his second home run of the season, and Stewart capped the scoring with an RBI groundout in the seventh off Blaze Pontes.

That proved more than enough for the 23-year-old Harmon, who followed a seven-inning gem from Javi Rivera on Wednesday with his own sterling outing. The right-hander limited the Lugnuts to five hits – two singles apiece from Jonny Butler and Colby Halter and an infield single from Will Simpson – while issuing zero walks and striking out six.

Arij Fransen pitched the eighth and ninth innings, walking Halter, to finish the five-hit shutout.

Lugnuts center fielder Henry Bolte went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, his third straight game in the series with four strikeouts.

Having dropped two straight after winning the series opener, the Lugnuts send right-hander Grant Judkins against Dayton lefty Bryce Hubbart at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

The Nuts play Dayton through Sunday, returning home June 11-16 for a six-game series with Cedar Rapids. For tickets and further information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.

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