COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - Fitz Stadler combined with three relievers on a six-hitter, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-16, 48-53) comfortably blanked the West Michigan Whitecaps (13-19, 34-67), 8-0, on Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.Rafael Lantigua and Gabriel Moreno drilled consecutive RBI doubles in the first inning, Ryan Gold swatted
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - Fitz Stadler combined with three relievers on a six-hitter, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-16, 48-53) comfortably blanked the West Michigan Whitecaps (13-19, 34-67), 8-0, on Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Rafael Lantigua and Gabriel Moreno drilled consecutive RBI doubles in the first inning, Ryan Gold swatted a two-run homer in the fourth and Moreno slugged his own two-run homer in the fifth, helping the Lugnuts set up a rubber match in the three-game series for Friday night.
West Michigan starter Robbie Welhaf (Loss, 3-5) gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings, increasing his ERA from 2.63 to 3.40.
Lugnuts right-hander Stadler (Win, 3-6) had a far more enjoyable night, scattering five singles, walking one, striking out three, and inducing two double-play balls from West Michigan All-Star Ulrich Bojarski.
Troy Watson followed with three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and two walks, before Joey Pulido and Juan Nuñez combined on a perfect ninth.
The Lugnuts wrapped up the scoring against West Michigan reliever Drew Crosby in the late innings. In the seventh, Crosby picked Lantigua off first base but DJ Neal raced home from third base. And in the eighth, Griffin Conine crushed a double to right field. Two batters later, Gold doubled him home.
Otto Lopez went 3-for-5 to lead a 12-hit attack - though the Lugnuts stranded only three runners. Johnny Aiello added a pair of singles, increasing his on-base streak to 23 games, while Conine finished 2-for-4 with a single, double and two runs scored.
The Lugnuts have won seven of their last eight meetings with West Michigan, improving to 4-1 at Fifth Third Ballpark in 2019.
18-year-old right-hander Eric Pardinho (1.89 ERA) takes on West Michigan right-hander Chance Kirby (4.27 ERA) at 7:05 p.m. in the Friday night finale.
The Nuts then return home on Saturday, July 27, for Oregon Trail Night with a Daniel Norris Bobblehead Giveaway! To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com, call (517) 485-4500 or come to the Cooley Law School Stadium box office at 505 E. Michigan Ave. in downtown Lansing.
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