Lugnuts speed to first win of 2019, 7-3

Reggie Pruitt slides in safely, giving the Lugnuts the early lead. (Miguel Arcaute)

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

April 5, 2019

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Johnny Aiello and Alejandro Kirk stole home in consecutive innings, Reggie Pruitt stole second base three times, and the Lansing Lugnuts (1-1) accelerated to their first win of 2019, 7-3, over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-1) on Friday night at Parkview Field.Jordan Groshans added a single, double,

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Johnny Aiello and Alejandro Kirk stole home in consecutive innings, Reggie Pruitt stole second base three times, and the Lansing Lugnuts (1-1) accelerated to their first win of 2019, 7-3, over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-1) on Friday night at Parkview Field.

Jordan Groshans added a single, double, two walks, two runs and two RBIs in the win for the Lugnuts, who amassed 12 hits, six walks and six steals to offset five errors.

With the score tied 2-2 in the sixth, runners at the corners and two outs, Fort Wayne reliever Trent Shelton (Loss, 0-1) picked Pruitt off first base - but the second-year Lugnut dashed successfully to second while Aiello raced home to break the tie.

In the seventh, after a Kirk RBI double gave the Lugnuts a 4-2 lead, it was Nick Podkul swiping second successfully while Kirk came home from third. Jake Brodt followed with an RBI triple, his second triple of the game, to put the Nuts up 6-2.

Pruitt scored Lansing's final run without need of a base hit. He drew a walk in the eighth, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, and came in on a Groshans grounder to short.

Lansing starter Joey Murray (Win, 1-0) struck out five batters in five innings, allowing only a pair of unearned runs in the second inning.

Will McAffer pitched the sixth and seventh innings scorelessly, Joey Pulido pitched around a walk in the eighth, and Connor Law gave up an unearned run before polishing off the ninth.

Five of the six runs allowed by the Lugnuts in their first two games have been unearned.

The series shifts now to Michigan's state capital on Saturday for the Lugnuts' 24th home opener, beginning with an Opening Day Block Party at 3 p.m., a Trapper Hat
giveaway to the first 1,000 fans presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, and LAFCU Fireworks following the Nuts' 6:05 p.m. game with the TinCaps. Right-hander Josh Hiatt makes his Lugnuts debut on the mound.

To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life at Cooley Law School Stadium, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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