Nuts stifle Great Lakes, 4-2

MIDLAND, Mich. – Patrick McColl broke a seventh-inning with an RBI triple, Lawrence Butler added a late solo homer, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-22) received outstanding pitching in doubling up the Great Lakes Loons (22-16), 4-2, on Saturday night at Dow Diamond.

The Nuts halted a three-game skid in winning their second game of the series, putting them in position to gain a split of the six-game set with a win in Sunday’s matinee.

Starter Joey Estes equaled a season high with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, limiting the Loons to three hits, but was removed due to injury precaution after coming up in pain trying to make a play on a Kekai Rios game-tying RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth inning.

Brock Whittlesey followed Estes with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing the Nuts’ offense a chance to take control.

That they did, with Butler reaching on an infield single to lead off the seventh inning, stealing second, and trotting around to score for a 2-1 Lugnuts lead on a McColl smash off of first base and into the right field corner. Drew Swift then plated McColl with a fielder’s choice to pitcher Michael Hobbs.

Two innings later, Butler sent an opposite-field home run soaring out to left for a 4-1 lead, the right fielder’s fourth home run of the year. It was Butler’s second straight two-hit game.

Oppo power? @itslaw1's got that covered. Hello, fire pit! pic.twitter.com/8rDPYezy4M

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 22, 2022

Imanol Vargas opened the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run off Trayson Kubo, but the Loons could manage nothing more against the right-hander from Stephen F. Austin.

Great Lakes had averaged seven runs on ten hits in defeating the Nuts the prior three days, but was held to two runs on five hits by Estes, Whittlesey and Kubo.

In the win, Lugnuts second baseman Euribiel Ángeles went 2-for-3 with an HBP, RBI and SB.

The Nuts send right-hander Stevie Emanuels (5.64 ERA) to the mound in the 1:05 p.m. Sunday finale, facing off with Loons southpaw Lael Lockhart (1.73 ERA) in a rematch of the series opener.

The next home game in Michigan’s state capital arrives May 31, when the Nuts welcome in the Cedar Rapids Kernels. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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