Pearson impresses in return, Lugnuts win 7th straight Showdown
LANSING, Mich. - Nate Pearson hit 102 miles-per-hour in his return to the mound and the Lansing Lugnuts held off the Michigan State Spartans, 6-4, to win the 12th annual Crosstown Showdown presented by Auto-Owners Insurance in front of a Tuesday night crowd of 6,388 at Cooley Law School Stadium.The Lugs
LANSING, Mich. - Nate Pearson hit 102 miles-per-hour in his return to the mound and the Lansing Lugnuts held off the Michigan State Spartans, 6-4, to win the 12th annual Crosstown Showdown presented by Auto-Owners Insurance in front of a Tuesday night crowd of 6,388 at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Lugs have won seven consecutive meetings with the Spartans, improving to 10-2 overall in the annual exhibition.
Pearson, the 28th overall selection in the 2017, pitched in his first game - albeit an exhibition - since he was struck by a line drive in his 2018 debut with Dunedin on May 7th. He struck leadoff hitter Danny Gleaves with a slider before inducing back-to-back fielder's choices and ending the first inning with a strikeout looking of Andrew Morrow.
The second inning featured a show of dominance: consecutive strikeouts of Dan Chmielewski (looking), Zach Iverson (swinging) and Adam Proctor (looking) to end his night.
Jose Ferrer put the Lugnuts on the board with an RBI triple in the second inning, and a three-run third keyed by a Vinny Capra two-run double (lost in the lights by left fielder Bryce Kelley) increased the lead to 4-0.
Adam Kloffenstein , the Blue Jays' 3rd-round draft choice in June and 88th overall selection, blanked the Spartans on one hit and two strikeouts in the third and fourth innings, and a Jesus Navarro RBI single gave the Lugnuts a five-run lead in the bottom of the fourth.
The Spartans broke up the shutout in the fifth, drawing within 5-2 on a two-run single by Zaid Walker against Jolfrank Concepcion.
Then errors nearly became the game's biggest story.
A run-scoring throwing error by Spartans shortstop Royce Ando built the Lugnuts to a 6-2 lead in the fifth.
Three outs away from victory in the seventh inning, the Lugnuts committed three errors in a four-batter span - two by second baseman Jose Rivas , and a two-run error by third baseman Miguel Hiraldo . Down 6-4 with the bases loaded and two outs, Spartans third baseman Peter Ahn struck out swinging against left-hander Naswell Paulino , ending the game.
Shortstop Capra led the Lugnuts offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base, and center fielder Steward Berroa added a pair of infield singles, a steal and a run scored.
Spartans catcher Adam Proctor only batted once in the game, the strikeout against Pearson, but he won a dramatic pre-game Home Run Derby, becoming a two-time champion in the event. Proctor, Andrew Morrow and Zaid Walker each hit four home runs in the three-minute first round, and then tied again at three homers in a one-minute swing-off. In a second one-minute swing-off, Proctor again blasted three home runs, while Morrow managed two long balls and Walker was shutout. In the finals, the Lugnuts' Freddy Rodriguez hit six home runs in three minutes, matching his first-round total. Proctor countered with six homers in the first 80 seconds, and then took a breather before immediately bashing a championship-clinching home run to the grass in right-center.
The 2018 Midwest League Postseason opens on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m., pitting the Lugnuts against the Bowling Green Hot Rods in Game 1 of the Best-of-Three Eastern Division Semifinals. The game will feature two specials: $1 hot dogs and $5 Bev Bands.
To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life at Cooley Law School Stadium, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
# # #
Lugnuts' Jump named MWL Pitcher of the Week
LANSING, Mich. – Lansing Lugnuts pitcher Gage Jump has been named the Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 28-May 4, Minor League Baseball announced Monday afternoon. Jump, 22, allowed only one baserunner, a Jonah Advincula fourth-inning single, in firing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts
Valenzuela delivers rainy walkoff winner in 10th, 1-0
LANSING, Mich. – Sahid Valenzuela slapped a game-winning RBI single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-11) walked off the Lake County Captains (15-12), 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The victory clinched a six-game series split with
After Judkins gem, Caps top Nuts in 9th
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins pitched six scoreless innings, but los Picantes de Lake County (15-11) scored three runs in the ninth to best the Lansing Locos (15-11), 3-1, in a Copa Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. Lake County has won two straight games in the series and enters the
Captains strike early, top Lugs 5-3
LANSING, Mich. – Jaison Chourio lined a two-run single in a three-run rally, and the Lake County Captains (14-11) built a five-run lead and defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (15-10), 5-3, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Caps and Lugnuts have split the first four games of the six-game series.
Jump nearly perfect in 5-0 rain-shortened win
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (15-9) jumped out to a quick lead, Cole Conn and Tommy White homered, and Gage Jump turned in his latest dominating performance in a 5-0 rain-shortened victory over the Lake County Captains (13-11) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The game was delayed twice,
Robinson schools Captains in 5-2 Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – In the first Grand Slam School Day of the season, Kyle Robinson twirled six hitless innings while Clark Elliott homered and drilled a two-run single to help the Lansing Lugnuts (14-9) beat the Lake County Captains (13-10), 5-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Jackson® Field™. In the
Captains rout Locos late, 13-5
LANSING, Mich. – The Lake County Captains (13-9) broke open a tight game with six-run rallies in the eighth and ninth innings, romping to a 13-5 win over the Lansing Locos (13-9) on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™. Lansing starter Yunior Tur had tossed 5 1/3 strong innings, allowing only
Cedeño HR in 9th helps TinCaps stop Lugnuts, 5-4
LANSING, Mich. – Nerwilian Cedeño slugged a go-ahead two-run homer onto Larch Street in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-11) edged the Lansing Lugnuts (13-8), 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The result ended a four-game TinCaps losing streak, though Lansing still won
Down 7-0, Lugs rally to win, move into 1st place
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (13-7) gave up seven runs in the first three innings, scored nine runs in the next three innings, and won their fourth straight game over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-11), 9-7, in a Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. With the win, the Lugnuts clinched
Jump fans 13 in LSU-driven Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – LSU teammates Gage Jump struck out 13 batters in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Tommy White delivered a first-inning RBI double and an eighth-inning RBI single, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (12-7) to a 3-1 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-10) on Friday night at Jackson® Field™.
Schofield-Sam's huge night lifts Lugs, 7-3
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts started T.J. Schofield-Sam as their designated hitter on Thursday night against the Fort Wayne TinCaps – and he accepted the role, and then some. Schofield-Sam went 5-for-5 with three extra-base hits and the Lugnuts (11-7) scored in each of the first four innings en
Lugs’ pen quiets TinCaps, 8-3
LANSING, Mich. – A night after allowing 16 hits and 15 runs in a slugfest loss, the Lansing Lugnuts (10-7) stopped the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-8), 8-3, on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™. After starter Yunior Tur struck out six in five innings, a quartet of Lugnuts relievers – Hunter
De Vries cycles TinCaps past Locos, 15-14
LANSING, Mich. – 18-year-old Leo De Vries, the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego Padres organization, completed the cycle with a tie-breaking two-out two-run triple in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-7) held off the Lansing Locos (9-7), 15-14, on Tuesday night at
Nuts complete win, Judkins CG wrap Wisconsin series
APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (9-6) completed a 4-3 victory from Friday night before Grant Judkins tossed the Midwest League’s first complete game in a 2-0 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (5-10), concluding a six-game series on Saturday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The
Nuts win 5th straight, rain suspends nightcap
APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (8-5) extended their winning streak to five with an 8-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-9) in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Game 2? More like Game To Be Continued. The
Lugnuts, Team Lyders Taco Bell announce Launch-a-Ball to benefit Capital Area Humane Society
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts and Team Lyders Taco Bell are teaming up to support the Capital Area Humane Society through Launch-A-Ball, launching into Jackson® Field™ during nine select home games throughout the 2025 season. “At Team Lyders Taco Bell, we’re always looking for ways to bring fun, community,
Lugnuts hold off T-Rats, win 4th straight
APPLETON, Wisc. – In a game featuring their first back-to-back home runs in four years, it was a run-scoring balk in the ninth inning that lifted the Lansing Lugnuts (7-5) to a 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-8) on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities
Three-run 8th keys third straight win
APPLETON, Wisc. – Yunior Tur struck out eight batters in 4 2/3 innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (6-5) used a three-run rally in the eighth inning to top the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-7), 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Neuroscience GroupField at Fox Cities Stadium. The Lugnuts have won three consecutive
Garland, Nuts open Wisconsin trip with W
APPLETON, Wisc. – Jake Garland pitched into the seventh inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (5-5) were in control from start to finish for a 6-2 series-opening win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-6) on Tuesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Following Sunday’s memorable 12-11 12-inning victory
Absolutely Nuts: Green slam forces extras, Dickey walks off in 12th
LANSING, Mich. – Is the ninth game of the season too soon for the Game of the Year? The Lansing Lugnuts (4-5) rallied from a six-run deficit in the ninth inning, forcing extras on a two-strike, two-out Rodney Green, Jr. grand slam, and then rallied again in the 12th inning
Nuts notch 16 hits, fall victim to Loons' 7-run 7th
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (4-4) scored seven runs in the seventh inning to double up the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5), 12-6, in a marathon three hours and 41 minutes on Saturday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The game had 29 combined hits, 16 by Lansing; 17 walks, 11 issued
Valenzuela rallies Lugnuts to 4-3 win
LANSING, Mich. – Sahid Valenzuela lined a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (3-4) edged the Great Lakes Loons (3-4), 4-3, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Nuts rallied from two different late deficits against the Great Lakes’ bullpen, erasing a
Nuts’ rally in 9th falls short, 3-2
LANSING, Mich. – Joe Vetrano broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning with a two-run double, and the Great Lakes Loons (3-3) held on to edge the Lansing Lugnuts (2-4), 3-2, on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. Trailing 3-1 and facing flame-throwing Loons closer Reynaldo Yean in the bottom
Nankil drives in five, rain halts Nuts' win in sixth
LANSING, Mich. – Nate Nankil scored the Lansing Lugnuts’ first run on a Cole Conn RBI double, and then drove in five runs with his next three swings, leading the Lugnuts (2-2) to a rain-shortened 8-2 six-inning victory over the Great Lakes Loons (2-3) on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™.
Green homers twice, but Loons double up Lugs
LANSING, Mich. – Rodney Green, Jr., thumped a pair of home runs, but the Great Lakes Loons (2-2) outslugged the Lansing Lugnuts (1-3), 10-5, on Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. The temperature was 35 degrees at first pitch for the Lugnuts’ 29th Midwest League home opener, with a combination of