Lugnuts drop Dragons by familiar score

LANSING, Mich. - The Lansing Lugnuts (25-20, 68-47) have found a winning formula - and it's oddly specific. For the third straight game, the Lugnuts won by a 5-4 score, triumphing over the Dayton Dragons (20-25, 51-62) in a Winning Wednesday opener of a three-game series at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The streaking Lugnuts, who previously defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 5-4 on both Sunday and Monday, have won four in a row and 11 of their last 13 games.

After Dayton turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead with three sixth-inning runs, Freddy Rodriguez and Jesus Navarro delivered back-to-back two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to give the Lugnuts the lead for good.

Pinch-runner Reggie Pruitt supplied an important insurance run in the eighth, stealing second base, moving to third on a flyout to center and scoring on a Dauri Moreta wild pitch for a 5-3 cushion.

Hendrik Clementina led off the ninth with a solo home run, the Dragons slugger's 16th of the year. Dany Jimenez (Save, 10) followed up with a strikeout of Alejo Lopez, a walk to Reshard Munroe and a double-play grounder from Mark Kolozsvary to seal the win.

Lansing starting pitcher Matt Gunter (Win, 4-4) posted his third quality start of the year, pitching six innings and allowing only three sixth-inning runs. Brayden Bouchey followed with two perfect innings, lowering his ERA to 2.08.

Dayton starter Austin Orewiler (Loss, 4-4) lasted two batters into the sixth; both scored. In all, he gave up nine hits, two walks and four runs, striking out two.

Navarro and Samad Taylor led the Lugnuts with two singles and a double apiece, and Brandon Grudzielanek went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Ryan Noda drew three walks and scored a run, increasing his MWL-leading total to 89 walks this season.

Thursday, the middle game of the three-game series, is a Labatt Thirsty Thursday - Ladies Night with $2 beer/wine and half off craft beer! Lugnuts left-hander Jordan Barrett (4.62 ERA) gets the start against Dayton right-hander Mac Sceroler (4.55) at 7:05 p.m. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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