Captains prove less than Jake
LANSING, Mich. – Making his Midwest League debut, Jake Garland struck out 10 batters in seven commanding innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (17-19) received home runs from Jonny Butler and Max Muncy in a 5-2 Thursday night victory over the Lake County Captains (19-17) at Jackson® Field™. Garland, the A’s
LANSING, Mich. – Making his Midwest League debut, Jake Garland struck out 10 batters in seven commanding innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (17-19) received home runs from Jonny Butler and Max Muncy in a 5-2 Thursday night victory over the Lake County Captains (19-17) at Jackson® Field™.
Garland, the A’s 17th-round selection in 2022 from the University of Miami, had impressed with Single-A Stockton to open the season, tossing five perfect innings on April 13 to earn the honor of California League Pitcher of the Week, and arriving in Lansing with a 2.78 ERA in 32 1/3 innings.
Earlier this year, @JakeGarland25 was named the California League Pitcher of the Week after tossing a gem for the @stocktonports.
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 19, 2023
Tonight was his Lugnuts debut. We hereby submit the footage to @MiLB for Jake's nomination for Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.
Sensational. pic.twitter.com/6Ij53sJcna
The 22-year-old right-hander was even more impressive in High-A, setting a new professional high in innings pitched while utilizing 95 pitches, 59 strikes, and limiting Lake County to two hits, two walks, and one fourth-inning run. Along the way, he struck out the side in the first inning, whiffed two apiece in the third, fifth and sixth innings, and closed out his outing with a strikeout of Micael Ramírez to end the seventh.
Meanwhile, the Lugnuts’ offense was relentless against Lake County starter Aaron Davenport. Butler opened the first inning with his second home run of the season, a 408-foot shot to left-center, and Muncy followed two batters later with his fourth roundtripper for a 2-0 lead.
Power: 🔛
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 19, 2023
(This seems like a fine time to mention that the Lugnuts now have a Home Run Pikachu Cap.) pic.twitter.com/J625N2Hcuv
In the second inning, Jack Winkler’s sacrifice fly grew the lead to 3-0.
In the third inning, Danny Bautista, Jr., singled home Junior Pérez, who had singled and stolen second, for a 4-0 lead.
And in the fourth, Muncy supplied the Nuts’ final run with a sac fly of his own, plating Winkler.
Hunter Breault recorded the final six outs for the Lugnuts, striking out two and allowing a run on two hits and a walk.
In the win, Lansing catcher Daniel Susac went 0-for-3 with a walk, increasing his on-base streak to 18 games.
Lugnuts right-hander Jacob Watters gets the ball on Friday at 7:05 p.m. against Lake County right-hander Ethan Hankins, the 35th overall selection of the 2021 draft. Gates open at 6 p.m., with Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act supplying entertainment and LAFCU Fireworks following the game. For ticket information, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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