Lugnuts chase Greene, drop Dragons

LANSING, Mich. - Brock Lundquist slugged a first-inning grand slam off top prospect Hunter Greene, Chavez Young added a three-run homer, and the Lansing Lugnuts (10-6) dealt the Dayton Dragons (9-6) a 10-7 defeat in the opening game of a four-game series on Monday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The 18-year-old Greene (Loss, 0-1), the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft and the Cincinnati Reds' No. 2 prospect, faced nine Lugnuts batters, recorded only two outs, struck out one, and was tagged for seven runs in an eight-run first-inning uprising.

Kevin Vicuña gave the Nuts a 1-0 lead with a one-out opposite-field double, moving to third on a throwing error by catcher Mark Kolozsvary and scoring on a wild pitch on a two-out walk to Kacy Clemens .

Christian Williams followed with a single to right and Cullen Large coaxed a walk to load the bases for Lundquist, who swatted a 1-2 pitch over the ribbon board in right-center for his first home run of the year, putting the Lugnuts up 5-0.

Javier Hernandez followed by drawing a third walk from Greene, and Reggie Pruitt doubled down the left-field line to move Hernandez to third and send Greene to the showers.

Young then greeted new pitcher Austin Orewiler with a home run to left-center, driving in Hernandez and Pruitt for a stunning 8-0 lead.

The Lugnuts added two runs in the seventh inning against reliever Tyler Buffett on a Lundquist sacrifice fly and a Hernandez RBI single.

Dayton made the game interesting with two big innings, tallying four runs against Lugnuts starter Maximo Castillo in the fourth - including a solo home run from first baseman Montrell Marshall - and closing with three runs in the ninth inning against reliever Donnie Sellers .

With two runners aboard and the potential game-tying run in the batter's box, Lugnuts reliever Kyle Weatherly (Save, 1) retired cleanup hitter Stuart Fairchild on a foul-out to first to end the game.

Castillo (Win, 1-0) worked a career high six innings, striking out four and allowing nine hits and a walk. Sellers followed with seven strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings, giving him 21 strikeouts in just 8 2/3 relief innings this season.

The Lugnuts and Dragons play the second game in their four-game set on a Dollar Deal Day: $1 hot dogs, $1 popcorn, $1 ice cream sandwiches, $1 fountain drinks and $1 Miller High Life. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch pitting Lugnuts ace right-hander Yennsy Diaz (0.51 ERA) against Dragons left-hander Packy Naughton (2.60). To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
 
# # #