Three new Lugnuts debut in 7-2 loss

MIDLAND, Mich. - Pitchers Dalton Rodriguez , Jake Fishman and Miguel Burgos each made Midwest League debuts in a Lansing Lugnuts (22-37, 59-66) 7-2 loss to the Great Lakes Loons (28-31, 64-64) on Wednesday night at Dow Diamond.

The trio had been called up with right-hander Chris Hall from Short-Season Vancouver to replace, among others, Patrick Murphy and Nick Hartman , who were promoted to A-Adv. Dunedin.

21-year-old Rodriguez (Loss, 0-1) received the start, allowing three first-inning runs before settling in to blank the Loons in the second and third innings. The native of Mexicali, Mexico, pitched 4 2/3 innings in all, departing with the Loons leading 6-0.

Fishman, the first ever MLB draftee from Division III Union College, followed up with three strikeouts in the next 1 1/3 innings, serving up a home run to Nick Yarnall.

Burgos, a native of Valencia, Venezuela, followed with two scoreless innings, escaping a bases-loaded/none-out jam in the eighth.

The Lugnuts were stymied by Loons starter Riley Ottesen, who struck out eight batters in four scoreless innings. Andre Scrubb (Win, 6-2) pitched the next 2 2/3 innings, giving up the only Nuts runs - a Ridge Smith RBI double and a Nick Sinay RBI single - in the seventh inning.

Smith and Sinay finished as the Lugnuts' only hitters to collect multiple hits, with Smith going 2-for-4 while Sinay finished 2-for-3.

The rubber match of the three-game series, as well as the season series finale, is set for 7:05 p.m. Thursday night, featuring Lugnuts right-hander Mike Ellenbest (7-6, 6.29) against Loons right-hander Melvin Jimenez (2-1, 1.80).

On Friday, the Nuts return home for a three-game series with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, opening with Oldsmobile Heritage Night presented with the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum featuring postgame LAFCU Fireworks. 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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