Winckowski impresses but Lugnuts drop opener

Center fielder Reggie Pruitt collected one of eight Lugnuts hits in the loss.

April 4, 2019

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - 2018 Northwest League Pitcher of the Year Josh Winckowski struck out seven batters in a scoreless Midwest League debut, but the Lansing Lugnuts (0-1) were blanked, 3-0, by the Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-0) on Minor League Baseball's Opening Night on Thursday at Parkview Field.The 20-year-old Winckowski matched

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - 2018 Northwest League Pitcher of the Year Josh Winckowski struck out seven batters in a scoreless Midwest League debut, but the Lansing Lugnuts (0-1) were blanked, 3-0, by the Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-0) on Minor League Baseball's Opening Night on Thursday at Parkview Field.

The 20-year-old Winckowski matched zeroes with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, Fort Wayne left-hander Ryan Weathers, for five innings, limiting the TinCaps to a pair of singles and a trio of walks. Weathers countered with nine strikeouts, scattering six hits.

A sixth-inning throwing error by shortstop Jordan Groshans opened the door for a pair of two-out unearned Fort Wayne runs off relievers Mike Pascoe (Loss, 0-1) and Marcus Reyes , thanks to RBI singles from Agustin Ruiz and Xavier Edwards.

Blake Hunt added an RBI double off Reyes in the seventh inning to provide insurance and close the scoring.

Jose Quezada (Win, 1-0) pitched a scoreless sixth inning for Fort Wayne, Angel Acevedo held the Lugnuts off the board in the seventh and eighth, and converted infielder Carlos Belen (Save, 1) handled the ninth. In all, TinCaps pitchers notched 14 strikeouts.

In defeat, the Lugnuts collected eight hits - one apiece from eight batters in the nine-man starting lineup, including a double from Groshans, and second baseman Otto Lopez drew two walks in addition to a single. But the Lugnuts went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners on base.

Two-time Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year Joey Murray makes his Lugnuts debut on Friday at 7:05 p.m., opposing Fort Wayne right-hander Efraín Contreras .

Then the series shifts to Michigan's state capital on Saturday for the Lugnuts' 24th home opener, beginning with an Opening Day Block Party at 3 p.m., a Trapper Hat giveaway to the first 1,000 fans presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, and LAFCU Fireworks following the Nuts' 6:05 p.m. game with the TinCaps.

To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life at Cooley Law School Stadium, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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