MIDLAND, Mich. - Maverik Buffo fired seven scoreless innings and the Lansing Lugnuts (8-1, 51-28) used a three-run fifth inning to beat the Great Lakes Loons (0-9, 24-53), 3-1, on Friday night at Dow Diamond.The Lugnuts have won 11 of their last 12 games; the Loons have lost 13 straight.
MIDLAND, Mich. - Maverik Buffo fired seven scoreless innings and the Lansing Lugnuts (8-1, 51-28) used a three-run fifth inning to beat the Great Lakes Loons (0-9, 24-53), 3-1, on Friday night at Dow Diamond.
The Lugnuts have won 11 of their last 12 games; the Loons have lost 13 straight.
Buffo (Win, 9-2) became the first Midwest League pitcher to reach the nine-win mark in grand fashion, limiting the Loons to six hits and one walk, striking out six and coaxing two double plays. Only one pitcher in Minor League Baseball, Memphis's Dakota Hudson, has more than nine wins this season.
Great Lakes starter Leo Crawford (Loss, 0-5) matched Buffo zero for zero through the first four innings, but fell apart in the fifth. Crawford hit Freddy Rodriguez with a pitch, gave up a single to Jesus Navarro and then hit Owen Spiwak , with the catcher showing home plate umpire Keith Nichol where on the upper arm the pitch had hit him in order to convince Nichol of his right to first base.
Samad Taylor followed with a dribbler back to Crawford, who bungled the attempt to glove it and throw home for the force, bringing in Rodriguez for a 1-0 Lugnuts lead. Kevin Vicuña followed with an RBI single and, two batters later, Brandon Grudzielanek capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.
Dalton Rodriguez , returning from a stint in Vancouver, followed Buffo's effort with a perfect eighth inning to maintain the Lugnuts' 3-0 lead.
Great Lakes spoiled the shutout in the ninth against Brayden Bouchey on a Brandon Montgomery sacrifice fly. With the potential game-tying run at home plate, however, Bouchey struck out prospect Romer Cuadrado looking to end the game.
6-foot-7 Colton Laws (5.44 ERA) gets the start for the Lugnuts in the third game of the four-game series, set for 7:05 p.m. on Saturday. The Loons counter with right-hander Edwin Uceta (4.40 ERA).
The next Lugnuts home game is a huge one: on the 4th of July against the West Michigan Whitecaps, a 6:30 p.m. start followed by an Independence Day LAFCU Fireworks Spectacular! To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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