Lugs fall in 10 wild innings, 6-5

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (19-23, 48-58) were no-hit into the eighth inning, built leads of 3-1 and 5-3, and ultimately fell in ten innings on a Samuel Gil sacrifice fly, 6-5, to the West Michigan Whitecaps (25-19, 49-59)on Wednesday night at LMCU Ballpark.

Even with the loss, Lansing has won seven of its past nine games. Both losses came in ten-inning games.

Lansing starter Taylor Novotny followed up a six-inning, three-run quality start in his last outing with six dynamite shutout innings, striking out five while allowing four hits and two walks.

But with Riley Huge on the mound in the seventh, a missed-catch error by first baseman C.J. Pittaro gave West Michigan a 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile, the Nuts’ offense had been held hitless through seven innings by Ben Jacobs (4 2/3 IP, 5 walks), rehabbing Moises Rodriguez (1 1/3) and Zack Lee. Jared Sprague-Lott put an end to the no-hit bid with a single to right off of Lee on the first pitch of the eighth inning. After an HBP of Breyson Guedez and a wild pitch, Ali Camarillo singled home both teammates and scored himself on a Myles Naylor sac fly for a 3-1 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, however, a Camarillo throwing error extended the inning. Beau Ankeney took advantage with a two-run homer off of Jose Dicochea, tying the game at 3-3.

After a scoreless ninth, Daniel Bucciero mashed a two-out, two-run homer off of Ryan Harvey for a 5-3 Lugnuts lead in the tenth inning. It was Bucciero’s second High-A home run, a monster shot that sailed into the bullpen in right-center.

Facing Abel Mercedes in the bottom of the tenth, a Juan Hernandez RBI single, Edian Espinal double and Bryce Rainer intentional walk brought the Whitecaps within a run with none out. A walk to pinch-hitter Cristian Santana tied the score at 5-5. Merecedes recovered to strike out Ankeney, but a fly to right from Gil brought in Espinal with the winning run.

In the loss, Jake Reinisch went 1-for-5 with a single to extend his on-base streak to 24 games.

West Michigan is expected to treat Thursday night’s contest as a bullpen game; the Lugnuts answer with the debuting Jackson Nove, just called up from Single-A Stockton to replace the promoted Steven Echavarria. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

The Lugnuts next return home from August 18-23, hosting the Peoria Chiefs. For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.

# # #