Olive Burgers top Whitecaps, and that’s a Lansing Fact

LANSING**, Mich. –** In front of 6,628 Lanstronauts, the Cap City Olive Burgers (20-25, 52-58) overcame a constant rain to grill the West Michigan Whitecaps (26-18, 57-53), 6-5, on a Lansing Facts Thursday night at Jackson® Field™.

It was the second win in as many years for the Olive Burgers, who treated Joey Chestnut to a 7-4 victory over Fort Wayne on August 10, 2023.

On this night, the Olive Burgers tallied in the second, third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings, just enough to hold off a Whitecaps squad that trimmed the deficit to one run on a Max Clark home run in the ninth, but could come no closer.

Right fielder Nate Nankil went 4-for-4 and center fielder Ryan Lasko went 3-for-5 to lead a 14-hit Olive Burgers attack; Nankil is hitting .358 (19-for-53) through 14 games in High-A while Lasko is hitting .379 with a .500 on-base percentage over his last eight games.

Starting pitcher Will Johnston struck out five batters in four innings, allowing two hits and a pair of fourth-inning runs. He yielded to his former college teammate at Texas A&M, Micah Dallas, who gave up three hits and a run in the fifth inning, fanning two.

Wander Guante pitched the next 2 1/3, allowing six hits but only one run, before Diego Barrera handled the final five outs, striking Luke Gold with the potential game-tying run aboard to end the ballgame.

In the win, Olive Burgers first baseman Will Simpson went 1-for-4 with a double (his league-leading 44th extra-base hit) and a sacrifice fly (his league-leading 73rd RBI).

Friday night is Super Hero Night with gates opening at 6 p.m. for a 7:05 p.m. start and featuring postgame LAFCU Fireworks! Right-hander Luis Morales starts against West Michigan lefty Joe Miller. For tickets and further information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.

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