8,242 watch Lugnuts edge Loons, 2-1

LANSING, Mich. – Junior Pérez scored a pair of runs, Kumar Nambiar and Christian Fernandez combined to toss five scoreless innings in relief, and the Lansing Lugnuts (10-13, 41-47) thrilled a crowd of 8,242 with a 2-1 victory over the Great Lakes Loons (13-10, 58-30) on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™.

The Lugnuts have won three of the first five games in the six-game series against powerful Great Lakes, becoming the first Midwest League team in 2023 to clinch either a home series split or victory against the Loons.

The Loons had won seven consecutive series on the road entering the six-game set in Lansing.

Pérez led off the second inning with a bunt single to pitcher Hyun-il Choi, who then overthrew first baseman Griffin Lockwood-Powell to move the Lugnuts’ speedster to second base. Brennan Milone followed with an RBI double to left, giving the Nuts a 1-0 lead.

The Loons tied the score in the third inning on a Damon Keith RBI single off Lugnuts starter Jacob Watters, though further damage was averted by a Lockwood-Powell double-play ball.

Pérez then led off the fourth inning with a double to left against reliever Adolfo Ramírez. After a walk to Milone and a groundout by Euribiel Ángeles that moved the runners to second and third, Ramírez coaxed a comebacker from T.J. Schofield-Sam – but bobbled it for an error and then, like Choi before him, threw it beyond Lockwood-Powell to bring in Pérez with the go-ahead run.

The Lugnuts’ bullpen duo took it from there.

Nambiar struck out three batters in two scoreless innings, working around a Chris Newell one-out double in the sixth.

Fernandez took the final three innings, issuing a walk in the seventh but inducing Dalton Rushing to hit into a double play, stranding two walks in the eighth, and twirling a perfect ninth to nail down the win.

It was the 14th game this season that Lugnuts pitchers have allowed one run or fewer.

Lansing starter Watters struck out four batters in four innings in a no-decision, allowing four hits, three walks and one run.

Right fielder Colby Thomas went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, halting his 19-game hitting streak.

Great Lakes manager Daniel Nava and injured infielder Alex Freeland were ejected from the game in the top of the eighth inning for arguing a forceout at second base. The Loons have had four different members of their roster – three players and Nava – ejected during the series.

Lansing goes for the series victory on Sunday at 1:05 p.m., with gates opening at 12 noon as Wizarding Weekend continues, featuring a Golden Snitch Baseball giveaway on a Capital City Market Kids Day. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500 during office hours.

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