Walkinshaw, Lugnuts close out TinCaps, 3-2

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Jake Walkinshaw allowed one hit in five innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (9-12, 34-53) edged the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-12, 36-51), 3-2, in the finale of a six-game series on Sunday afternoon at Parkview Field.

The Lugnuts are off the next four days along with the rest of Minor League Baseball for the Major League Baseball All-Star Break.

Coming off nine strikeouts in four shutout innings in his last Lugnuts start, starter Walkinshaw dazzled once again. Of 17 batters faced, only TinCaps first baseman Cole Cummings reached base, hitting an opposite-field solo home run in the second inning and drawing a walk in the fourth inning. Otherwise, Walkinshaw struck out five and recorded nine outs on the ground and one in the air via 74 pitches, 49 strikes.

Gabriel Maciel singled home Alexander Campos in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1 against Fort Wayne starter Noel Vela.

Vela departed the game two batters into the sixth, issuing a walk to Maciel, who stole second, followed by a single by Tyler Soderstrom that put runners at the corners. Reliever Seth Mayberry struck out Jack Winkler, but Euribiel Ángeles plated Maciel with a groundout to second for a 2-1 Lugnuts lead. Joshwan Wright followed with a grounder to third that Olivier Basabe threw into the TinCaps’ dugout, bringing in Soderstrom for a 3-1 lead.

A throwing error by Lugnuts shortstop Drew Swift opened the door in the home sixth inning for an RBI single by Brandon Valenzuela off Brock Whittlesey to bring the ‘Caps within 3-2. But Whittlesey retired Cummings on a flyout to center to end the inning, then worked a scoreless seventh, striking out Jack Stronach and Basabe to strand a one-out walk.

In the eighth, Angello Infante allowed a two-out double to Corey Rosier but set down Valenzuela on a flyout to left to end the potential threat.

And in the ninth, starter-turned-reliever Osvaldo Berrios struck out Cummings, Matthew Acosta and Stronach around a Jarryd Dale single, notching his first save of the season and second career save in five years.

Lugnuts leadoff hitter Swift went 2-for-4 with two singles, a walk and stolen base, his 18th, in the win, though he was also caught stealing for the second time in 2022.

The Nuts return to action on Marvel Super Hero Day, Friday, July 22, hosting the Lake County Captains at 7:05 p.m., wearing Black Panther-inspired uniforms with a Black Panther sock giveaway presented by CADL and LAFCU postgame fireworks. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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