Lugnuts take opener in Bowling Green, 6-4

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Norberto Obeso broke a tie in the eighth inning with an RBI single and the Lansing Lugnuts (37-21) seized the series opener at the Bowling Green Hot Rods (36-20), 6-4, tying the Hot Rods atop the Midwest League's Eastern Division with 12 games remaining in the first half.

Lansing improved to 2-2 on its season-long 13-game, 14-day road trip. With the victory, the Lugnuts also became the first Minor League Baseball team to reach 37 wins in 2018

Third baseman Cullen Large slugged a two-run homer, his third straight game with a home run, as the Lugs built a 4-0 lead behind five shutout innings from starter Donnie Sellers . Large later departed the game due to injury precaution after making a sensational barehanded play on a Carl Chester bunt.

A pivotal seventh inning heated up the game. The Hot Rods scored four runs against reliever Maximo Castillo , erasing the Lugnuts' lead, with Taylor Walls scoring the game-tying run from third on a Castillo two-out wild pitch on a swinging strike three to Moises Gomez. Zach Rutherford attempted to score the go-ahead run from second base on the same play, but catcher Andres Sotillo fed the ball to Castillo for the tag at the plate, ending the inning. Bowling Green manager Craig Albernaz was ejected while arguing the call.

The Lugnuts immediately took back the lead for good against reliever Tyler Day (Loss, 0-2) in the top of the eighth, with Samad Taylor lashing a double down the left-field line and Obeso singling him in.

Chavez Young added insurance against Day with an RBI double in the ninth.

Castillo (Win, 4-1) worked the sixth, seventh and eighth innings for Lansing, striking out three while allowing four runs on six hits and two walks.

Dany Jimenez (Save, 3) pitched around a two-out single to seal the game with a scoreless ninth.

Young went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, walk, steal, run scored and two RBIs in the win, and Reggie Pruitt added two hits, two steals and a run scored.

The Lugnuts go for the series victory at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, sending right-hander Colton Laws (6.91 ERA) against Bowling Green left-hander Josh Fleming (1.17).

Following their current 13-game road trip, the Lugnuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Friday, June 15th, opening a three-game series against South Bend featuring Family Faith Night with LAFCU Fireworks on June 15th, Star Wars Night with LAFCU Fireworks on June 16th, and a Father's Day Delta Dental Kids Day with a special Jersey Giveaway on June 17th. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

# # #