Miller debuts, but Lugs drop finale

APPLETON, Wisc. – Touted pitching prospect Mason Miller impressed in his Midwest League debut, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (25-29, 61-58) defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (25-29, 50-70), 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Even with the result, the Lugnuts won the series, taking four of six games at the Timber Rattlers.

Miller, the Athletics’ third-round selection in 2021 from Gardner-Webb and MLB Pipeline’s No. 22 A’s prospect, was welcomed to High-A by a leadoff home run by Ben Metzinger. He then set down the next six batters he faced in two innings total, recording a pair of strikeouts in each frame while regularly touching triple digits with his fastball.

Mason Miller's velocity is what it is (you know, 100+ mph, that sort of thing).

Check out this breaking stuff. pic.twitter.com/RRQrKr8spj

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 28, 2022

18-year-old Jackson Chourio, the Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 1 prospect, added a three-run homer off Jorge Juan in the third inning, building the Wisconsin lead to 4-0.

RBI singles from Sahid Valenzuela in the fifth inning and Joshwan Wright in the eighth inning chopped the Timber Rattlers’ lead in half, but that was as close as the Nuts came.

Jeferson Quero hit a 420-foot homer off 2022 eighth-rounder Micah Dallas in the eighth to close out the scoring.

In the loss, Wright led the Lugnuts with a 2-for-4 showing and 2022 12th-rounder TJ Czyz tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

The Nuts next enjoy a day off Monday before continuing their 12-game, 13-day road trip to South Bend.

At the conclusion of the road trip, the Lugnuts return home September 6-11 to close out the season against Dayton. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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