Loveless drives Lugs past Hot Rods

LANSING, Mich. - The Lansing Lugnuts (1-1, 33-38) offense knocked 14 hits and rolled to an 8-3 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (1-1, 33-38) on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. 

Six Lugnuts registered multiple hits, led by a three-hit, two-RBI night from shortstop Dawel Lugo.

RBIs from Lugo and Justin Atkinson pushed the Lugnuts ahead 4-2 in the fifth against Bowling Green starting pitcher Ben Griset (Loss, 0-3). 

Making his third start for the Lugnuts, Frank Viola III (Win, 2-0) gave up two runs in five innings with a walk and three strikeouts, raising his ERA to 1.15 on the season. Viola surrendered his first run of the season in the third inning, ending his scoreless innings streak at 13.0. 

Lansing pushed across four more runs in the seventh, including a two-run home run by Derrick Loveless, to extend the lead to 8-3. 

Loveless finished the night 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBIs while knocking his second home run of the season. 

Reliever Roberto Espinosa (Hold, 3) pitched two shutout innings, extending his current scoreless streak to 12.2 innings, the longest for any Lansing reliever this season. 

Lansing and Bowling Green play the third of the four-game set on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. Right-hander Chase De Jong (0-4, 4.73) will start on the mound for the Lugnuts, with lefty Chris Kirsch (3-5, 3.78) pitching for the Hot Rods. LAFCU Fireworks follow the 7:05 p.m. start.

Tickets are available for purchase via the stadium box office, telephone at 517-485-4500 and online at lansinglugnuts.com. To sign up for Lugnuts Alerts, text LUGNUTS to 80373.

 

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