LANSING, Mich. - Yennsy Diaz fired five hitless innings and Kevin Smith plated five runs with two big swings, driving the Lansing Lugnuts (11-6) to their third straight victory, 7-0 over the Dayton Dragons (9-7) on Tuesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.The Dragons only collected two hits in the game: a
LANSING, Mich. - Yennsy Diaz fired five hitless innings and Kevin Smith plated five runs with two big swings, driving the Lansing Lugnuts (11-6) to their third straight victory, 7-0 over the Dayton Dragons (9-7) on Tuesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Dragons only collected two hits in the game: a two-out Morgan Lofstrom single in the seventh and a one-out Mark Kolozsvary single in the eighth.
Diaz (Win, 2-0) walked three Dragons batters in the first inning, escaping the frame on a strikeout, a caught-stealing and a deep flyout to left. From then on, he allowed only one more base runner in, a two-out walk to Jeter Downs in the fourth. In total, Diaz struck out five and walked four, lowering his ERA to 0.40 and his opponent batting average to .054 (4 hits in 74 at-bats).
Smith supplied the run support, knocking a two-out, two-run double off Dayton starter Packy Naughton (Loss, 1-1) in the first inning, and then victimizing Naughton for a two-out, three-run homer in the third inning for a 5-0 lead. It was the shortstop's second home run of the year.
Lansing added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, thanks to a bases-loaded walk drawn by Samad Taylor and an RBI single from Brock Lundquist respectively, to close out the scoring.
Dalton Rodriguez pitched the sixth and seventh innings for the Lugnuts, striking out one. Brody Rodning wrapped up the eighth and ninth innings, notching two strikeouts.
Lansing has scored 17 runs in the first two games of the four-game series, increasing its Midwest League-leading run total to 104. The Lugnuts' offense also drew 10 walks, including three by Taylor and two apiece by Cullen Large and Matt Morgan .
Ryan Noda coaxed his MiLB-leading 23rd walk of the year, extending his on-base streak to 14 games.
Lugnuts lefty Zach Logue (3.24 ERA) starts the third game of the series, a Winning Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Dayton counters with right-hander Mac Sceroler (5.79). To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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