Nuts close 2017 regular season with 10-1 loss

LANSING, Mich. - The Lansing Lugnuts closed their 22nd Midwest League season with a 10-1 loss to the Dayton Dragons in a Labor Day matinee at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Lugnuts finished the season with a 63-73 record, going 37-29 in the first half and 26-44 in the second half.

The Nuts' offense was led by 1-2-3 batters Rodrigo Orozco (2-for-5), Joshua Palacios (3-for-4) and Nash Knight (2-for-3). They combined to score Lansing's only run, a first-inning tally on singles by Orozco and Palacios followed by a Knight sacrifice fly.

19-year-old shortstop Luis De Los Santos added two hits in four at-bats.

Lansing starter Mike Ellenbest (Loss, 8-8) allowed ten hits and six runs in four innings in his team-leading 25th start of the year.

He was followed to the mound by debuting right-handers Danilo Manzueta and Adams Cuevas , each added to the Lugnuts roster from the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays on Sunday. Manzueta allowed three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings, and Cuevas gave up one run on two hits, one walk and two hit batsmen in two innings.

Jake Fishman finished the game off, setting down the final four Dragons perfectly, with two strikeouts.

Dayton right-hander Alex Webb (Win, 1-4) pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief of starter Matt Blandino, who departed two outs shy of the minimum needed to earn the victory.

Jesse Stallings pitched around a De Los Santos single in a scoreless ninth inning, finishing the season.

While the Dragons march onward to the postseason, the Lugnuts next host the Michigan State Spartans in the 11th annual Crosstown Showdown presented by Auto-Owners Insurance. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with a commemorative baseball cap giveaway to first 2,000 fans, $2 beers/sodas, a 5:30 p.m. Home Run Derby, and postgame LAFCU Fireworks. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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