In front of 8,125, Buelvas HR walks off Chiefs
LANSING, Mich. – Brayan Buelvas blasted a two-run game-winning home run in the bottom of the tenth inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (29-32) thrilled a crowd of 8,125 with a 5-3 triumph over the Peoria Chiefs (30-32) on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™. It was the Lugnuts’ seventh walk-off win
LANSING, Mich. – Brayan Buelvas blasted a two-run game-winning home run in the bottom of the tenth inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (29-32) thrilled a crowd of 8,125 with a 5-3 triumph over the Peoria Chiefs (30-32) on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™.
It was the Lugnuts’ seventh walk-off win of the year. It was also their first walk-off home run since Tyler Soderstrom achieved the feat against Great Lakes on July 4, 2022.
BRAYAN BUELVAS, LIVING IN THE LIMELIGHT
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) June 18, 2023
WALKOFF NO. 7⃣
🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩 pic.twitter.com/EE3liijpcz
Alexander Campos’ first home run of the year, a two-run shot off Peoria starter Dionys Rodriguez, had given Lansing a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
But the Chiefs seized the lead with a three-run sixth inning against Lugnuts starter Jacob Watters and reliever Brock Whittlesey, going up 3-2 on an RBI single from Elijah Cabell.
Facing Chiefs closer Andrew Marrero, Max Muncy reached on an infield single to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Marrero then tossed three consecutive wild pitches, advancing Muncy 90 feet at a time, to tie the game at 3-3 and force extra innings.
Kumar Nambiar recorded his second hitless, scoreless inning in relief, blanking Peoria in the top of the tenth.
In the bottom of the tenth, placed runner Junior Pérez stole third to bring the Lugnuts 90 feet from a victory, but Marrero responded with a strikeout of CJ Rodriguez. Buelvas stepped to the plate and wasted no time, launching his second Midwest League home run way out to left to end the game.
The Nuts have won three straight games in the series, putting them in position to clinch a series victory with a win on Father’s Day. Right-hander Mitch Myers starts against Peoria southpaw Alex Cornwell in the 1:05 p.m. finale, with families invited to play catch on the field before the game, Kids Run the Bases afterward, and then an Extra Inning with free ice cream, music and Big Lug across the street at Capital City Market. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500 during office hours.
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