Echavarria wins first as Nuts tie Caps for 1st

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria tied a career high with 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional victory, and the Lansing Lugnuts (18-12) doubled up the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-12), 4-2, in a Thursday matinee at LMCU Ballpark, tying the Whitecaps for first place in the Midwest League’s East Division.

West Michigan opened the season with ten straight home wins, including the opener of the six-game series, but has dropped the last two games to the Nuts by two runs apiece.

Echavarria, MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 A’s prospect, relieved opener Corey Avant to begin with the third inning with Lansing trailing 2-1. He walked the first batter he faced, Johnny Peck, but top Tigers prospect Josue Briceño flied out, Peck was caught stealing second, and Andrew Jenkins popped out to second, as the young right-hander found a groove.

The Lugnuts took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning, thanks to a T.J. Schofield-Sam RBI single, Cole Conn RBI fielder’s choice and Jared Dickey RBI single, as Echavarria set down 10 straight batters before working out of a two-on, two-out jam in the sixth.

The New Jersey native departed in the seventh inning after sandwiching a popout and a flyout around a walk to Bennett Lee, stranded by a Blaze Pontes strikeout of Seth Stephenson. In all, Echavarria gave up two hits and two walks with one strikeout while recording 14 outs on 64 pitches, 40 strikes.

Hunter Breault pitched around a pair of singles in a scoreless eighth, and Mark Adamiak stranded a leadoff double in a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

Lansing goes for a third straight victory in the series behind Grant Judkins at 6:35 p.m. Friday, opposed by Whitecaps southpaw Joe Miller.

The next Lansing Lugnuts homestand arrives May 13-18 vs. South Bend. Tickets are available at the stadium box office, (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

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