LANSING, Mich. - A day after Kevin Smith delivered a game-winning RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth, Yeltsin Gudino grounded a game-winning RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the tenth, and the Lansing Lugnuts (25-13) won their seventh straight game, 10-9, over
LANSING, Mich. - A day after Kevin Smith delivered a game-winning RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth, Yeltsin Gudino grounded a game-winning RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the tenth, and the Lansing Lugnuts (25-13) won their seventh straight game, 10-9, over the Dayton Dragons (18-17) on Tuesday afternoon at Cooley Law School Stadium.
Audio: Gudiño's game-winning hit
It is the Lugnuts' third straight walk-off win against Dayton, improving the Nuts' record to 6-0 against the Dragons in 2018.
Coupled with a loss by Bowling Green, Lansing expanded its lead to 2.5 games atop the Midwest League's Eastern Division.
The game initially looked like it would be without drama. Lugnuts scored six runs in the second inning, knocking out Dayton starter Adrian Rodriguez, and then added three runs in the fifth inning for a 9-3 lead. But the Dragons rallied for six runs on six hits in the eighth inning against relievers Maximo Castillo and Kyle Weatherly (Blown Save, 1), forcing the Lugnuts to play extra innings for the first time this season.
Matt Shannon (Win, 2-0) held the Dragons off the scoreboard in the top of the tenth, striking out a pair of batters to strand runners at first and second.
In the bottom of the tenth inning with bonus runner Brock Lundquist at second base, Samad Taylor drew a one-out walk against reliever Ryan Nutof (Loss, 2-1). Nutof retired Ryan Noda before Gudiño sent a ground ball skimming through the middle of the diamond, bringing in Lundquist with the winning run.
Gudiño finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk. Taylor added three hits in five at-bats, scoring two runs; Christian Williams finished 3-for-6 with an RBI; and Chavez Young went 3-for-5 with a walk, two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs to lead the Lugnuts' offense.
In a no-decision, Lansing starter Colton Laws tossed four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
Lugnuts right-hander Yennsy Diaz (2.27 ERA) starts the third game of the four-game series against Dayton left-hander Packy Naughton (3.92), with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. on a Winning Wednesday. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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