Lugnuts blank Dragons 1-0 to open 28th season

DAYTON, OH – Two days after enjoying an 18-0 exhibition victory over Michigan State, the Lansing Lugnuts (1-0) kept the sheets clean, tossing a combined four-hit shutout in a 1-0 Opening Night victory over the Dayton Dragons (0-1) on Friday night at Day Air Ballpark.

Cameron Masterman doubled home Will Simpson with two outs in the sixth inning to supply the game’s only run.

The rest of the night belonged to Lugnuts pitching trio James González, Mitch Myers and Colton Johnson.

Starter González needed only 51 pitches to twirl five dominant innings, striking out six and allowing only one base runner, a Cam Collier single leading off the fifth.

Myers escaped a jam in his initial inning, punching out Carlos Jorge and Sal Stewart to strand runners at second and third. He followed up with perfect seventh and eighth innings, finishing with five strikeouts in three one-hit innings.

Johnson, returning to the mound for the first time in 945 days after missing the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injuries, allowed an infield single and a bloop single to open the last of the ninth. But with the potential tying and winning runs aboard, he bore down and coaxed a fielder’s choice from Stewart, struck out Collier and retired Jay Allen II on a groundout.

The Lugnuts improved to 14-14 all-time on Opening Day.

Designated hitter Masterman finished 2-for-4 with two doubles to lead the offense. Leadoff hitter Colby Halter added two walks and an HBP.

Right-hander Jose Dicochea starts the second game of the three-game season-opening series at 1:05 p.m. Saturday, opposed by Dayton right-hander Jared Lyons.

The Lugnuts open their home schedule on Tuesday, April 9, the start of a six-game homestand against the Great Lakes Loons. Tickets are on sale at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

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