Graveman comes two outs from no-hitter in 5-0 win
BELOIT, Wisc. - Kendall Graveman brought a no-hitter into the ninth inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (4-10) snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 5-0 two-hit blanking of the Beloit Snappers (5-10) on Friday night at Pohlman Field.
Making his third start of the season, the former Mississippi State Bulldog lowered his season ERA to 0.44 and set a new career high 8.1 innings pitched and tied a career-best seven strikeouts. He nearly was historic.
With one out in the ninth inning, Beloit catcher Jose Chavez sent a short-hop smash toward Lugnuts shortstop Dawel Lugo, reaching base on an infield single for the Snappers' first hit of the night. Graveman (Win, 1-0) exited immediately thereafter, with reliever Griffin Murphy allowing a single to Chih-Fang Pan before finishing the shutout.
Entering the final frame, the only previous baserunner against Graveman was a two-out walk drawn by Chavez in the third inning.
Lansing has only one no-hitter in its 19-year history, a combined nine-inning 15-0 no-hitter against the Dayton Dragons from Justin Jones, Westin O'Brien and Mark Carter on April 21, 2003.
The Lansing offense took a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning with three consecutive RBIs by D.J. Davis, Dickie Joe Thon, and Matt Dean off of Beloit starter Dylan Covey (Loss, 0-2).
Thon singled in the seventh inning to drive in another run, and Dean followed with an RBI double to pad the Lansing lead to 5-0.
Dean's three-hit, two-RBI game lifted his season batting average to a team-high .327.
Mitch Nay went 1-for-4 with a single and a walk to extend his team-high hitting streak to nine games. He has safely reached base in eleven consecutive games.
The Lugnuts and Snappers will play the rubber match of the three-game set on Saturday afternoon at Pohlman Field. Tom Robson (0-1, 8.10 ERA) will start on the mound for Lansing, with Ronald Herrera (1-1, 2.25 ERA) throwing for Beloit.
The Lugnuts return home following their six-day road trip to Wisconsin and Beloit to open a seven-game homestand on Monday, April 21st, against the Lake County Captains.
Tickets are available for purchase via the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, telephone at 517-485-4500 and online at lansinglugnuts.com. To sign up for Lugnuts Alerts, text LUGNUTS to 80373.
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