CLINTON, IA - Rainis Silva broke a tie with a two-run seventh-inning double and the Clinton LumberKings (12-11, 51-42) handed the Lansing Lugnuts (13-11, 56-38) a 6-2 loss on Sunday afternoon at Ashford University Field.The Lugnuts have lost two straight games to Clinton and three in a row on their six-game
CLINTON, IA - Rainis Silva broke a tie with a two-run seventh-inning double and the Clinton LumberKings (12-11, 51-42) handed the Lansing Lugnuts (13-11, 56-38) a 6-2 loss on Sunday afternoon at Ashford University Field.
The Lugnuts have lost two straight games to Clinton and three in a row on their six-game road trip to Iowa.
Lansing reliever Andrew Deramo (Loss, 2-2) started the seventh inning by striking out both Jack Larsen and Keegan McGovern - but McGovern reached base on a wild pitch on his swinging strike three. After an infield single by Johnny Adams, Silva sent a Deramo pitch down the left-field line, scoring both McGovern and Adams. Lugnuts manager Cesar Martin argued that the ball was foul to no avail.
Clinton added two insurance runs in the eighth against Deramo, closing out the scoring.
The Lugnuts' bullpen received heavy use. Nuts spot-starter Kyle Weatherly lasted only two innings, allowing two first-inning runs. Dalton Rodriguez stepped up and twirl the next three innings without allowing a run, giving the team a needed lift, before handing the ball to Matt Shannon for a scoreless sixth. Yunior Hinojosa recorded the final two outs of the eighth without issue.
Brandon Grudzielanek and Ryan Noda scored the Lugs' runs in the second and sixth innings respectively, coming home on a throwing error by second baseman Zach Scott and an RBI grounder from Norberto Obeso .
Samad Taylor went 2-for-5 with two singles for Lansing, the Nuts' only hitter with more than one base hit.
Clinton reliever Kyle Wilcox (Win, 3-2) struck out three batters in 1 2/3 innings to earn the victory. Sam Delaplane pitched the final two innings without issue for his seventh save.
Lansing will look to avoid a three-game sweep on Monday at 12:00 noon Eastern, with left-hander Matt Gunter (3.79 ERA) taking on Clinton right-hander Scott Boches (2.41).
The Lugnuts next return to Cooley Law School Stadium on a Winning Wednesday, July 18th, opening a six-game homestand with the Peoria Chiefs and the Cedar Rapids Kernels. To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
# # #
