Whitecaps top Nuts, touchdown to a field goal

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – On the first night of the NFL’s season, the West Michigan Whitecaps (35-27, 66-62) withstood the rain to beat the Lansing Lugnuts (26-37, 58-70) by a football score, 7-3, on Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.

The game featured rain showers at two different times during the game, including a downpouring eighth inning. The umpiring crew chose to play through the eighth and called for the tarp before the ninth inning, prompting a disagreement and subsequent ejection of Lugnuts manager Craig Conklin while the tarp was being pulled – and the rain was lessening. As quickly as it was placed on the field, the tarp was removed; the game was delayed only 17 minutes.

Ryan Lasko and Luke Mann delivered RBI triples for the Nuts in a three-run third inning, knocking out Whitecaps starter Joseph Montalvo and lifting Lansing into a 3-1 lead.

But the game turned in a five-run Whitecaps fourth inning. Drew Conover made his Lugnuts debut with two outs and a runner at first, taking over for starter Grant Judkins, and faced seven batters without record an out, issuing five walks and allowing an RBI single to Jim Jarvis and a three-run single to Max Anderson.

Dylan Hall relieved Conover and escaped the inning en route to 3 1/3 scoreless frames, but the damage was done.

Lansing shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer drew three walks and catcher CJ Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

The Nuts have lost six consecutive games.

Three games remain in the 2024 season, beginning with a Friday night contest at 6:35 p.m. pitting Lansing right-hander Mitch Myers against West Michigan right-hander Colin Fields.

For further information on the Lugnuts, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.

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