Wilson debuts, but Kernels win 12-9 slugfest
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Oakland Athletics 2023 first-rounder Jacob Wilson reached base three times in his Midwest League debut and Junior Pérez and Colby Thomas homered, but the Lansing Lugnuts (13-18, 44-52) lost the opener of a six-game series at the Cedar Rapids Kernels (19-12, 59-38), 12-9, on Tuesday night
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Oakland Athletics 2023 first-rounder Jacob Wilson reached base three times in his Midwest League debut and Junior Pérez and Colby Thomas homered, but the Lansing Lugnuts (13-18, 44-52) lost the opener of a six-game series at the Cedar Rapids Kernels (19-12, 59-38), 12-9, on Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The 21-year-old Wilson, the sixth overall selection in July’s draft and a high school teammate of former Lugnut Max Muncy, batted ninth and started at shortstop in his first game with Lansing. He doubled in the third inning, was hit by a pitch in the fourth and walked in the sixth, scoring two runs.
But the Lugnuts played from behind all night, trailing 2-0 after the first inning and 8-1 after the second as Cedar Rapids responded to Thomas’ third MWL home run with a six-run rally that knocked out starter Jake Garland.
A Joshwan Wright RBI triple off C.J. Culpepper spurred a four-run third for the Nuts, pulling the visitors back within three runs – but the Kernels countered with two in the home half off Kumar Nambiar to rebuild their lead to 10-5.
Pérez slugged a two-run homer and Brennan Milone added an RBI double in a three-run sixth, trimming the deficit to 10-8 – but Noah Miller answered with a two-run single in the seventh off Christian Fernandez to put Cedar Rapids back up by four.
Milone came through with a second RBI double in the eighth inning, but that proved to be the extent of the Lugnuts’ offense, tamped down for the final four outs by Miguel Rodriguez, recording his league-leading 13th save.
Milone, Thomas, and Euribiel Ángeles each collected two hits in the defeat.
A quick turnaround follows, with the Lugnuts and Kernels reconvening at 12:05 p.m. local / 1:05 p.m. Eastern for the second game of the series on Wednesday.
The Nuts’ next home game is on August 8, beginning a two-week homestand against Fort Wayne and Great Lakes. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500 during office hours.
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