Klein debuts with a smash as Lugs drop Dragons

LANSING, Mich. -- Daniel Klein doubled and homered in his Midwest League debut as the Lansing Lugnuts (11-22, 43-59) earned a series win with a 6-3 victory over the Dayton Dragons (18-16, 46-57) on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

With the game knotted up at 3-3, Chris Hawkins led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double down into the right field corner, moved to third on a fly ball to center and scored on Dwight Smith, Jr.'s fielder's choice to give Lansing the lead.

Insurance came in the next inning as Klein belted a two-run shot to left-center, stretching Lansing's lead to 6-3. It was Klein's first game since his promotion from Short Season Vancouver; the 22-year old finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a homer and a second inning double.

Lansing battled back from down 3-1 with an RBI groundout by Smith in the third before tying the game in the fifth on another RBI fielder's choice, this one by Christian Lopes.

After Lansing's Kendall Graveman lasted 3.2 innings in his third professional start, Kramer Champlin (Win, 6-2) earned the win with 4.1 sparkling innings of relief work, not allowing a single hit. Champlin struck out three and allowed only one baserunner, a walk in the sixth inning. The 22-year old Graveman allowed three total runs on five hits with two strikeouts and a walk issued in the no-decision.

Arik Sikula closed out the game with his 14th save of the season, a 1-2-3 ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.

All of Dayton's runs came on two swings; a solo homer by Jesse Winker in the second inning and a two-run blast by Seth Mejias-Brean in the third frame - both against Graveman.

Dayton starter Amir Garrett also took a no-decision, pitching four two-run innings. The southpaw allowed two runs - both earned - on five hits, also striking out two with one walk. Jackson Stephens (Loss, 0-5) took the loss, allowing four runs in four innings out of the bullpen.

The Lugnuts now welcome the Bowling Green Hot Rods for a three-game series starting on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. with postgame LAFCU fireworks and a Plaza Party Postgame concert. Lansing will hand the ball to Taylor Cole (5-9, 3.95) while the Hot Rods will counter with right-hander Jeff Ames (7-2, 2.43).

Lansing Lugnuts tickets are available for purchase at lansinglugnuts.com and by calling 517-485-4500, and Lugnuts text alerts are easily accessed by texting LUGNUTS to 313131.