Gray slugs Tugs past Lugs, 8-5

APPLETON, Wisc. – Joe Gray, Jr. broke a 5-5 seventh-inning tie with his second three-run homer of the game, and the Wisconsin Udder Tuggers (1-1, 27-39) halted a three-game losing streak with an 8-5 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (1-1, 32-35) on Saturday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Gray’s performance overshadowed a tremendous night for Lugnuts left fielder Jonny Butler, who homered in the top of the first inning; threw out Eric Brown, Jr. at second base in the bottom of the first; doubled in a run, stole a base, and scored on a Daniel Susac single in the top of the third; and smashed a second home run in the fifth inning, tying the score at 4-4.

An RBI fielder’s choice from Euribiel Ángeles put the Nuts in front, 5-4 in the seventh inning, but Wisconsin had the decisive answer in the home half against reliever Brock Whittlesey.

With runners at second and third and one out, the Lugnuts elected to intentionally walk Robert Moore to load the bases. Matt Wood followed with a sacrifice fly to knot the score at 5-5. That brought up Gray, Jr., who swatted a pitch from Whittlesey to deepest left-center to put the Udder Tuggers up for good.

It was an echo of his swing in the first inning, a three-run homer off Lansing starter Jacob Watters over the high wall in left-center. Darrien Miller followed with a home run to center field to temporarily give the hosts a 4-1 lead.

Still, the Lugnuts have won three of five in the series and will look for a series victory behind right-hander Joelvis Del Rosario against Wisconsin right-hander Jacob Misiorowski at 1:10 p.m. local / 2:10 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.

Following the series’ conclusion, the Nuts enjoy two days off before a six-game series at Great Lakes. The next Lansing home game arrives July 4th against Lake County. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500 during office hours.

# # #