Lugnuts walk all over Loons, 9-3
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (3-3) drew 10 walks, collected nine hits, and cruised past the Great Lakes Loons (3-3), 9-3, on a chilly Friday night at Jackson® Field™. Winds gusted and swirled upwards of 23 mph throughout the night, but Lansing’s lineup – first in the league in
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (3-3) drew 10 walks, collected nine hits, and cruised past the Great Lakes Loons (3-3), 9-3, on a chilly Friday night at Jackson® Field™.
Winds gusted and swirled upwards of 23 mph throughout the night, but Lansing’s lineup – first in the league in walks (37) – stayed patient with Great Lakes starter, Jackson Ferris, the Dodgers’ No. 7 prospect, and four relievers.
Ferris walked six batters in 3 2/3 innings, including three consecutive walks in the first inning to force in the game’s first run. He gave up two more runs in the second inning and was knocked from the box one out into the fourth inning with two runners aboard. Both scored against Michael Martinez, thanks to a Henry Bolte RBI single and a wild pitch, with the Lugnuts adding a third run for a 6-2 lead on a Martinez run-scoring balk.
Will Simpson added an RBI double in a two-run sixth inning against Jonathan Edwards, increasing the lead to 8-2.
Colby Halter capped the hometown scoring with an RBI single in the seventh against Livan Reinoso.
Lansing starter Mitch Myers conversely whiffed six Loons while walking only one in 3 2/3 innings, allowing a pair of fourth-inning tallies.
Hunter Breault followed with 1 1/3 perfect innings and James González blanked the Loons in the sixth and seventh innings before Yehizon Sanchez handled the eighth and ninth, allowing one run on three hits and two walks.
Right fielder Brayan Buelvas went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored to lead the Lansing offense. First baseman Simpson (1-for-3, two walks), center fielder Bolte (1-3, 2 walks) and left fielder Cameron Masterman (1-for-3, two walks) joined Buelvas in reaching base three times.
7-8-9 hitters Danny Bautista, Jr., Jose Mujica and Dereck Salom each collected a single and a walk and scored two runs.
The Lugnuts have won two of the first three games in the six-game series, setting the stage for a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1:05 p.m., with gates opening at 12 noon. Both games are scheduled for seven innings on a White Claws and Paws afternoon: dogs are welcome and drink specials include $3 domestic drafts, $5 craft drafts and $5 White Claws. Tickets are available for purchase at the Jackson® Field™ box office, over the phone at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.
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