Lugs stop Whitecaps, 5-3

LANSING, Mich. – James González struck out eight batters in 5 1/3 innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (26-31, 57-65) jumped out to an early lead and beat the West Michigan Whitecaps (32-24, 64-57), 5-3, in front of 7,119 on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™.

The Whitecaps had won the first two games in the series, but Lansing struck back on the final Coors Light Thirsty Thursday of the year with a happy hour of early offense.
Brennan Milone lined an RBI single in the first inning, Joshwan Wright and Jacob Wilson supplied RBI doubles in the second inning, and Colby Halter provided an RBI groundout in the third for a quick 4-0 lead for their big southpaw starter.

González entered the game having allowed only one run in his first two appearances, each totaling five innings, and followed suit against the Whitecaps with five one-hit scoreless innings.

But the Whitecaps’ Seth Stephenson, Brady Allen and Gage Workman opened the sixth inning with consecutive singles against González, bringing in the visitors’ first run. After a strikeout of Andrew Jenkins, González’s eighth of the game, a walk to Luke Gold loaded the bases.

Mac Lardner entered in relief and allowed an RBI single to Eliezer Alfonzo and a run-scoring fielder’s choice to Izaac Pacheco, trimming the lead to 4-3, but retired Josh Crouch on a flyout to strand two runners.

T.J. Schofield-Sam supplied an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh for insurance, and Lardner set down the next four Whitecaps before yielding to Hunter Breault to finish off the eighth.

Breault worked two outs into the ninth, allowing a pair of singles, before John Beller came out of the pen to strike out Gage Workman to finish off the win, recording his fourth save.

In all, the Lugnuts’ three relievers pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, combining with González to whiff 13 Whitecaps.

Lansing’s offense finished with a balanced 12 hits, including two apiece from Milone, Wright, Junior Pérez and Colby Thomas.

Friday is the final Copa de la Diversión game of the year, with Luis Morales, the no. 2 pitching prospect in the Athletics’ system, making his High-A debut for the Lansing Locos at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office, via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500.

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