Benson blasts Caps past Lugs, 7-2

LANSING, Mich. - 2018 Midwest League All-Star Will Benson homered twice and the Lake County Captains (29-18) overcame solo home runs from Jake Brodt and Otto Lopez in a 7-2 series-opening victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (19-27) on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Nuts brought a 1-0 lead to the fifth inning, thanks to Brodt's second-inning solo shot, his fifth homer of the year, but the Captains seized control of the game with a two-out, five-run rally, ignited by a Benson three-run homer off starter Josh Winckowski (Loss, 4-2).

Winckowski tossed 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, walking two and striking out three. Benson's homer was the first the right-hander had allowed all year.

A Tyler Freeman sacrifice fly in the sixth off Will McAffer extended the Captains' lead to 6-1.

Benson left his final mark in the ninth, taking Marcus Reyes deep to right for his 12th home run of the season, tying Great Lakes left fielder Niko Hulsizer for the Midwest League lead. (Hulsizer had just homered five times in four games in Lansing to start the Lugnuts' homestand.)

Lopez closed out the scoring with a one-out solo homer to left-center in the bottom of the ninth, the shortstop's first home run since April 7th.

First baseman Brodt finished 3-for-3 while Lopez went 2-for-4 - comprising the only five hits the Nuts managed against Lake County starter Luis Oviedo and reliever Kyle Marman.

Oviedo (Win, 5-2) gave up one run, three hits and three walks in six innings, striking out two. Marman tossed the final three innings, striking out five and allowing one run, for his first save.

Saturday night is the Eat-A-Palooza presented by Gordon Food Service: $24 for admission and all-you-can-eat inside the ballpark! Nuts right-hander Josh Hiatt (3.18 ERA) receives the start against Captains right-hander Cody Morris (3.00). To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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