LANSING, Mich. - Two batters into the game, the visiting Bowling Green Hot Rods led, 2-0 - and then the Lansing Lugnuts (24-29) dominated from that point on, defeating the Hot Rods (32-23), 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.Griffin Conine
LANSING, Mich. - Two batters into the game, the visiting Bowling Green Hot Rods led, 2-0 - and then the Lansing Lugnuts (24-29) dominated from that point on, defeating the Hot Rods (32-23), 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
Griffin Conine followed up a 4-for-5, two-double, two-homer performance in Dayton on Thursday with a 3-for-4, RBI single, RBI double, triple showing in his home debut; Otto Lopez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to extend his on-base streak to 22 games; Jake Brodt smoked two RBI doubles; and Troy Miller led a strong pitching effort to lead the Lugnuts to their third straight win and hand the Hot Rods a third straight loss.
Miller (Win, 1-3) opened the game with a four-pitch walk to Ford Proctor and served up a two-run homer to Tampa Bay Rays No. 1 prospect Wander Franco, but recovered from the inauspicious start to toss five innings, striking out four and allowing only three further base hits.
Marcus Reyes followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only a single - which he erased by picking Proctor off first base two batters later.
Jackson Rees (Save, 2) handled the final five outs without allowing a hit, striking two and lowering his ERA to 0.37.
2-3-4 hitters Otto Lopez , Conine and Brodt handled the rest, combining for all seven of the Lugnuts' hits. Conine notably improved to 8-for-13 in his first three games with the Nuts, with six extra-base hits in his last two games.
Bowling Green starter Easton McGee (Loss, 4-1) suffered the brunt of the damage, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Saturday is Mystery Jersey Night at Cooley Law School Stadium, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. between Lansing right-hander Sean Wymer (8.23 ERA) and Hot Rods right-hander Shane Baz (1.80). To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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