Winckowski, Rees silence Hot Rods

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Josh Winckowski combined with Jackson Rees to shut down the Midwest League's highest scoring team, sending the Lansing Lugnuts (11-10) past the Bowling Green Hot Rods (12-10), 4-0, on Friday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Hot Rods entered the day having scored 110 runs in their first 21 games - but Winckowski (Win, 2-0) was having none of it.

The 20-year-old right-hander extended his scoreless streak to 13 straight innings with seven impressive innings, allowing five hits and no walks, and striking out eight, including the final four batters he faced.

Rees took it from there, setting down six of the final seven Hot Rods and pitching around a two-out double in the ninth. In 11 innings, the University of Hawaii at Manoa product has allowed just one unearned run, striking out 18 and walking just one.

The full extent of the Lugnuts' offense came in the first three innings against Hot Rods starter Shane McClanahan (Loss, 1-3), the 31st overall pick in the 2018 draft, who struck out nine but allowed five walks, four hits and four runs, three earned, in 5 2/3 innings.

Reggie Pruitt led off the game with a walk, stole second, and dashed the 180 feet home for a 1-0 lead after Bowling Green second baseman Osmy Gregorio bobbled the transfer on a fielder's choice.

In the second, Johnny Aiello crushed a double off the left-field wall and was wild-pitched to third and home by McClanahan - two of four wild pitches for the southpaw in the first two innings, tying the Hot Rods' single-game franchise record.

Jake Brodt blasted his third home run of the year in the third inning, an opposite-field solo shot to right-center, for a 3-0. Hagen Danner then doubled and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Ford Proctor, closing out the scoring.

Pruitt finished the game 0-for-3 with two walks, two steals and a run scored, extending his team-high on-base streak to 19 games.

The game was completed in two hours and 25 minutes.

Lansing right-hander Joey Murray (4.35 ERA) starts the third game of the four-game series against Bowling Green right-hander Alan Strong (1.80). First pitch is at 7:35 p.m. Eastern, 6:35 p.m. local time.

The Nuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Tuesday, April 30th, opening a six-game homestand against Wisconsin and Beloit. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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