Rain, Rivera end Lugnuts’ winning streak

DAYTON, OH – Javi Rivera struck out nine batters over seven strong innings, and the Dayton Dragons (26-27) stopped the Lansing Lugnuts (28-25), 4-1, in a rain-shortened eight innings on Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark.

The Lugnuts, the Midwest League leader in runs scored, had won three straight games entering the night.

Jonny Butler began the night well for the visitors, drawing a leadoff walk from Rivera, stealing second, and scoring on a Luke Mann RBI double.

But the Nuts managed only two further hits: a leadoff double from Casey Yamauchi in the third inning and a Colby Halter single in the seventh inning. Following the Halter single, Cameron Masterman drew a walk – but Rivera fanned Cole Conn to end the threat, recording his ninth and final strikeout.

Luis Mey, working at 100 mph, relieved Rivera for the eighth and tossed a perfect frame with two strikeouts.

The Dragons, meanwhile, pushed across solo tallies in the second, third and sixth innings against Lansing starter Luis Carrasco (6 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts) and one run in the eighth against Yehizon Sanchez, who tossed a perfect seventh, but was rescued an inning later by Garrett Irvin, who escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam.

That seemed to set the stage for an interesting ninth between Mey and the middle of the Lugnuts’ order – but the rain, which had been coming down since 8 p.m., intensified, prompting a call for the tarp. 30 minutes later, the game was called.

Lansing lefty Will Johnston starts the third game of the six-game series on Thursday, opposed by Dayton right-hander Johnathan Harmon at 7:05 p.m.

The Nuts play Dayton through Sunday, returning home June 11-16 for a six-game series with Cedar Rapids. For tickets and further information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.

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