Nuts turn tables, narrowly edge Chiefs
LANSING, Mich. – After dropping the first two games of their series with the Peoria Chiefs by one run apiece, the Lansing Lugnuts (27-32) turned the tables with a 4-3 victory over Peoria (30-30) in front of 6,649 on Thursday evening at Jackson® Field™. Center fielder Junior Pérez gave Lansing
*LANSING, Mich. – *After dropping the first two games of their series with the Peoria Chiefs by one run apiece, the Lansing Lugnuts (27-32) turned the tables with a 4-3 victory over Peoria (30-30) in front of 6,649 on Thursday evening at Jackson® Field™.
Center fielder Junior Pérez gave Lansing their first lead of the series with an RBI groundout in the first inning, threw out Thomas Francisco at the plate to complete a double play and end a fifth-inning threat, and tied the score at 2-2 with a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning.
CJ Rodriguez broke the tie with an RBI double in the seventh off Peoria starter Trent Baker, pushing Lansing in front, 3-2. Two batters later, Max Muncy singled home Rodriguez with a crucial insurance run.
A big win ends in a big hug.#GoNuts 🔩
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) June 16, 2023
📽️ The highlight reel: pic.twitter.com/9KrOF20Ogh
Aaron McKeithan’s fifth home run of the year drew Peoria within one run in the eighth against reliever Brady Basso.
The Chiefs kept the heat on in the ninth. After Osvaldo Tovalin flied out to left against Jack Owen, Francisco Hernandez drew a walk to put the tying run on. Hernandez was erased on a Thomas Francisco fielder’s choice, with Darlin Moquete pinch-running at first. Moquete thought he had successfully stolen second base with Tyler Reichenborn at the plate, but home plate umpire Cliburn Rondon ruled that Reichenborn’s backswing had interfered with catcher Daniel Susac and sent the runner back. Reichenborn followed with a single to left-center, advancing Moquete to third, but Owen retired Victor Scott II on a first-pitch popout to short to end the game, recording his first save.
In his Midwest League debut, Lansing starter Jose Dicochea tossed 4 1/3 innings, striking out two while allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in a no-decision. Kumar Nambiar finished the fifth inning, aided by Pérez’s double play, with Basso twirling the sixth through the eighth innings and Owen wrapping up the ninth.
Muncy led the Lugs’ offense, finishing with a pair of singles in four at-bats.
Star Wars Night arrives on Friday, the fourth game of the six-game series, with Lansing right-hander Jake Garland dueling with Peoria right-hander Tink Hence at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500.
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