Moss gathers 11th win as Dayton avoids sweep

Yeltsin Gudino delivered the Lugnuts' only run with an RBI groundout in the sixth inning. (Tyler Marcotte)

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

July 28, 2017

LANSING, Mich. - Scott Moss took the league lead with his 11th win, lifting the Dayton Dragons (13-21, 54-50) to a 3-1 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (13-21, 50-50) on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.The Lugnuts' offense, which had piled up 14 hits in back-to-back wins to start the

LANSING, Mich. - Scott Moss took the league lead with his 11th win, lifting the Dayton Dragons (13-21, 54-50) to a 3-1 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (13-21, 50-50) on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Lugnuts' offense, which had piled up 14 hits in back-to-back wins to start the series, was held to just five singles and a Nick Sinay double in the loss.

Dayton starter Moss (Win, 11-5), ranking in the MWL's top five pitchers in wins, innings, strikeouts, and lowest batting average against, pitched five innings plus two batters, allowing only one sixth-inning run (an RBI grounder from Yeltsin Gudino ) while walking one and striking out five.

Lansing starter Andy Ravel (Loss, 6-6) pitched six quality innings in defeat, striking out five, walking none, and giving up three runs (two earned) - two in the third inning on RBI singles from Mitch Trees and Taylor Trammell, and one in the sixth on an RBI single from Shane Mardirosian.

Relievers Denis Diaz and Geno Encina also excelled. Diaz fired two scoreless innings, striking out three, and Encina recorded a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

The Nuts had a chance in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs and Javier Hernandez at first base, Dragons second baseman Malik Collymore dropped a Mattingly Romanin popup for a two-base error. Luis Silva came up to bat with the potential game-tying runs in scoring position, but grounded out to shortstop against Dayton closer Joel Kuhnel(Save, 11).

Dayton center fielder Jose Siri extended his league-leading hitting streak to 33 games with a fifth-inning double, putting him two games away from tying the Midwest League record.

The Lugnuts next welcome in the Great Lakes Loons for a four-game series, opening at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday - Farm Bureau Insurance Pure Michigan Night featuring postgame LAFCU Fireworks! The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a special Michigan- and Lugnuts-inspired beach towel.

The pitching matchup features Nuts right-hander Mike Ellenbest (6.93) against Loons right-hander Jordan Sheffield (4.01). Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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