LANSING, Mich. - Jordan Barrett tossed six scoreless innings, Samad Taylor drove in three runs, and the Lansing Lugnuts (26-20, 69-47) hung on through a tense eighth and ninth innings to defeat the Dayton Dragons (20-26, 51-63), 4-3, on a Labatt Thirsty Thursday at Cooley Law School Stadium.The Nuts brought a
LANSING, Mich. - Jordan Barrett tossed six scoreless innings, Samad Taylor drove in three runs, and the Lansing Lugnuts (26-20, 69-47) hung on through a tense eighth and ninth innings to defeat the Dayton Dragons (20-26, 51-63), 4-3, on a Labatt Thirsty Thursday at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Nuts brought a 4-0 lead to the eighth inning, but the Dragons scored three runs against Dalton Rodriguez on two singles, a walk, a run-scoring double-play ball, a second walk, an RBI infield single followed by a throwing error, an intentional walk and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
Andrew Deramo relieved Rodriguez with the bases loaded and retired J.D. Williams on a flyout to right, ending the threat.
In the ninth, Lorenzo Cedrola tripled with two outs to put the potential game-tying run 90 feet away. Deramo bore down and struck out Jose Garcia on three pitches, ending the game and picking up his first save of the year. Garcia shattered his bat over his knee in frustration.
It was the Lugnuts' fifth straight win, and their fourth by exactly one run.
Deramo's save made a victor of Barrett (Win, 2-2), who was masterful. The left-hander needed only 70 pitches to post six shutout frames, scattering four hits and striking out three.
Dragons starter Mac Sceroler (Loss, 2-4) had outdueled Barrett on July 29th in Dayton, but came up short on this night, pitching six innings and allowing a third-inning sacrifice fly to Taylor and then a fifth-inning two-run triple to the Lugnuts' second baseman.
The Lugnuts added an important insurance run in the seventh against reliever Aneurys Zabala, loading the bases with one out before Norberto Obeso drove in the debuting Bryan Lizardo with a sacrifice fly.
Taylor went 1-for-2 with a walk, triple and three RBIs, extending his on-base streak to a team-high 19 consecutive games.
Lansing 8-9 hitters Reggie Pruitt and Jesus Navarro enjoyed outstanding games, combining to go 5-for-6 with three runs scored. Navarro, who finished 3-for-3 with three singles, has collected eight hits in his last nine at-bats.
The Nuts go for the three-game sweep on Friday night in the third day of their seven-game homestand: Knights of Columbus Night with coupons for the first 500 fans for a free slice of Cottage Inn pizza, plus postgame LAFCU Fireworks! Lugnuts right-hander Maximo Castillo (4.96 ERA) starts against Dayton right-hander Patrick McGuff (3.52) at 7:05 p.m. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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