Simoneit walks off Game 1, closes Game 2 in twinbill split
LANSING, Mich. – William Simoneit broke up a no-hitter with a walk-off home run, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (46-52) to a 2-1 Game 1 victory over the West Michigan (46-52), and then pitched the final inning of a 9-2 Game 2 loss, as the Nuts and Whitecaps split a Wednesday
LANSING, Mich. – William Simoneit broke up a no-hitter with a walk-off home run, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (46-52) to a 2-1 Game 1 victory over the West Michigan (46-52), and then pitched the final inning of a 9-2 Game 2 loss, as the Nuts and Whitecaps split a Wednesday night doubleheader at Jackson® Field™.
In the opener, West Michigan starter Austin Bergner and reliever Chris Mauloni held the Lugnuts hitless for the first six innings, with Lansing’s only base-runners coming via two walks and an HBP in the third inning.
A Jonny Butler sacrifice fly in the third inning gave the Lugnuts a 1-0 lead, but the Whitecaps knotted the score on a Cooper Johnson sac fly in the fifth.
The combination of Colin Peluse (three innings), Leudeny Pineda (two innings), Charles Hall (1 2/3 innings) and Brock Whittlesey (1/3 of an inning) held the Whitecaps to just that one run, with Whittlesey relieving Hall and needing only one pitch to strand runners at first and third, ending a jam in the top of the seventh.
Simoneit then led off the bottom of the seventh against Mauloni and drilled a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center for his seventh home run of the year. It was the Lugnuts’ first walk-off home run since D.J. Davis played the hero in the bottom of the tenth inning vs. Clinton on July 20, 2014.
In the nightcap, Gage Workman (3-for-3, two RBI doubles, solo home run) and Jimmy Kerr (two-run homer) powered the Whitecaps to victory while the Lugnuts again managed only two runs, this time on two hits – a Shane Selman single and a Selman RBI double.
Lansing starter Shohei Tomioka allowed five runs on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two, knocked out amid a five-run fifth inning. Charlie Cerny gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings, bridging to Simoneit, who effectively used his eephus to hold the Whitecaps to a run on two hits in the seventh.
The third game of the six-game series is a Labatt Blue Thirsty Thursday beginning at 7:05 p.m., with $2 domestic drafts and $4 craft drafts. Lansing will start left-hander David Leal (6.57 ERA) against West Michigan southpaw Jack O’Loughlin (54.00 ERA). To purchase tickets or for more information, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
# # #
Here are the 10 best potential prospect matchups at Spring Breakout
Spring Breakout will soon offer the opportunity for the majority of baseball's top prospects to face off against each other for the second straight year. Fearsome sluggers against hard-throwing pitchers. Speedy baserunners against cannon-armed catchers. Well-rounded shortstops battling to prove who should be ranked higher. Full rosters for all 30
10 prospects at Spring Training who are lighting up Statcast
One of the best parts of Spring Training every year is getting to see the top prospects in baseball. A lot of the time, it's the first look fans get at MLB's future stars. But we also know a lot more about those prospects going into Spring Training than we
Questions plague Peeples' trailblazing story
A version of this story previously appeared on MiLB.com in 2007. We present it again as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Prospects to watch this spring -- one for each team
Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and exhibition games kick off Thursday with the Cubs visiting the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.
8 of the best team matchups in Spring Breakout
After Spring Breakout's dynamic debut last year, the prospect showcase event returns in full force for 2025. All 30 Major League teams will field squads of top prospects to face off in 16 games from March 13-16 -- the Cubs and Nationals will play twice since there's an odd number
Fowler: A 19th-century baseball pioneer
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Everything you need to know about prospects and Spring Training
This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Arkansas-based Mariners affiliate to honor legacy of the Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine sounds like it could be the name of a baseball team playing in Arkansas' capital city, and for three nights during the 2025 season, it will be. The story behind the name transcends baseball, however. From Aug. 21-23, the Arkansas Travelers -- Seattle's Double-A affiliate --
MiLB podcast breaks down Spring Training storylines
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Leaf Peepers? Thunder Chickens?! Coming to the Minors this year
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Dodgers greats Newcombe and Campanella made history as Minors teammates
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury
A lot of players will be getting a fresh start heading into the 2025 season. Prospects who missed significant time due to injury have had upwards of six months between regular-season games to return to health. Now they'll be looking to re-establish their value and maybe even reach new heights.
Check out the newest Minor League team logos for 2025
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Here are 18 prospects who also starred on the gridiron
The two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs are set to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and plenty of baseball prospects will be keeping a close eye. After all, many current Minor Leaguers played football at a high level before committing fully to the diamond. No, there aren't any
Did you know the Superdome was once home to a Minor League team?
On Sunday, one of the world’s most-watched sporting events will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Believe it or not, decades before Super Bowl LIX came to town, the same building was home to a Minor League Baseball team for one season. The 1977 Triple-A New Orleans Pelicans
How a Black pitcher's brief PCL stint in 1916 generated a historic card
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2010. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
The Show Before the Show: Episode 489
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors legend Jones still holds batting record
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2008. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers. Grover "Deacon" Jones spent more than a half-century in baseball, serving the game at almost every level and in
Hooks have a new look -- and more -- on the line for 20th season
In advance of a milestone season at Whataburger Field, the Corpus Christi Hooks are making a change. The Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate unveiled new logos and uniforms on Friday evening, marking the first time they have significantly altered their look since debuting in 2005. According to Hooks general manager Brady
Here's how Jackie Robinson fueled Montreal to a Minor League title in 1946
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
They're due! MiLB's longest active title droughts
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
These players could earn teams extra Draft picks in 2025
Since the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) was implemented under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, four players have earned their clubs extra Draft picks. The PPI rewards teams for promoting their best prospects to the big leagues at the start of the season, enabling them to earn a Draft pick if
Each team's best non-Top 100 prospect
There just isn't enough room to fit all the worthy talents on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. We unveiled our latest rankings last Friday, and now we're going to spotlight the best prospect in each farm system who couldn't quite make the cut. We undertook the same exercise last