Lugnuts ease past Udder Tuggers, close out first half

APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (31-34) wrapped up the first half of the Midwest League with a cool 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Udder Tuggers (26-38) thanks to a responsive offense and a dominant relief effort on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Twice Wisconsin took the lead, on a two-run Darrien Miller double in the first inning and an Ernesto Martinez, Jr. RBI double in the fourth. Twice Lansing immediately answered, thanks to an Euribiel Ángeles two-run single in the second and a Junior Pérez RBI single in the fifth.

But in the seventh inning, Max Muncy’s RBI groundout off Max Lazar brought in Ángeles, who had led off with a triple, giving Lansing its first lead of the game.

Wisconsin had no answer, held scoreless through the final five innings by John Beller (two innings, one hit, four strikeouts) and Christian Fernandez (three scoreless innings, one hit, three strikeouts).

Danny Bautista, Jr. and Jonny Butler joined Ángeles in posting two-hit games to lead a nine-hit effort.

Nuts starter Jose Dicochea allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in four innings in a no-decision, striking out five.

All records now reset to 0-0 in the Midwest League with the 66-game second half beginning Friday. Lugnuts right-hander Jake Garland starts against right-hander Tyler Woessnerat 6:40 p.m. local / 7:40 p.m. Eastern.

The Nuts are on the road for two weeks at Wisconsin and Great Lakes, next returning to Michigan’s state capital for a homestand beginning July 4th against Lake County. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500 during office hours.

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