Lugnuts follow similar formula for 2nd straight win at Lake County

EASTLAKE, OH – In the series opener at Classic Park two days prior, the Lansing Lugnuts rode strong starting pitching, crisp defense, solid relief and a late rally to a 3-1 victory.

In the second game of the series, the recipe worked again: Joey Estes turned in an excellent start, the bullpen was lights out late, and Brayan Buelvas capped a three-run seventh-inning rally with a two-run homer to lift the Lugnuts (6-11) to a 4-1 victory over the Lake County Captains (7-10) on Thursday night at Classic Park.

The Lugnuts had entered the series with a league-high 6.66 ERA, but have allowed one earned run in 18 combined innings, walking two batters while striking out 22.

The tone was set by 20-year-old starter Estes, who whiffed six batters in five shutout innings. He was threatened only in the third, when Micael Ramírez led off with a single and Korey Holland followed with a double. Estes retired Connor Kokx on a groundout to third, with the runners holding, then struck out Joe Naranjo. Angel Martínez earned a walk to load the bases, but Estes struck out Christian Cairo to quash the Captains’ hopes.

With the score tied 1-1 entering the seventh, Brett Harris drew a leadoff walk from Lake County reliever Jaime Arias and Jack Winkler sent him to second with an infield single. Lazaro Armenteros flied to right, allowing Harris to tag and move to third, putting him in position to score the tie-breaking run on a Jared McDonald sacrifice fly to center field. Buelvas followed with a no-doubt shot to left, his first home run of the year.

The Lugnuts’ bullpen handled things from there: Joe DeMers allowed one run while pitching the sixth and seventh innings; Kumar Nambiar fired a perfect eighth with two strikeouts; and Angello Infante recorded his fourth save with a scoreless ninth, setting down three in a row – two by strikeout – after allowing a leadoff single.

Second baseman Harris finished the game with two singles and two walks, scoring two runs for the second consecutive game. He has reached base in 12 consecutive games.

Right-hander Grant Holman (3.60 ERA) starts the third game of the six-game series on Friday at 6:35 p.m., opposing Lake County right-hander Lenny Torres (3.18 ERA). The Lugnuts play the Caps through Sunday, including a Saturday doubleheader, before returning home for 12 games in 13 days played at Jackson® Field™ from May 3-15. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

# # #