Nine feels fine! Lugs sweep Dayton again

LANSING, Mich. - Behind the pitching of Turner Larkins and Brody Rodning , the Lansing Lugnuts (27-13) defeated the Dayton Dragons (18-19), 4-1, on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium, completing a sweep of Dayton and giving the Lugnuts their ninth straight win.

The Lugnuts are within one victory of the longest winning streak in franchise history, set from April 12 through April 21, 2007.

The Nuts improved to 8-0 against the Dragons, pulling off the four-game sweep after having already swept Dayton in a four-game set from April 23 through April 26 at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Lansing starter Larkins (Win, 3-3) set a career high with six shutout innings, limiting the Dragons to four hits while striking out seven.

Rodning (Save, 3) took care of the rest, recording the final nine outs. The left-hander came within one out of finishing the shutout before a Stuart Fairchild RBI single gave the Dragons their first and only run.

The majority of the Nuts' offense came in the third inning. With two outs and a runner aboard, Dayton starter Wendolyn Bautista (Loss, 2-2) walked Kevin Smith , Ryan Noda and Brock Lundquist consecutively to force in a run. Samad Taylor followed with a two-run single for a 3-0 Lugnuts lead.

In the seventh inning, Norberto Obeso added insurance with an RBI single to center field, plating Kevin Vicuña.

Both Taylor and Vicuña finished the game 2-for-4.

The game was played in a brisk two hours and 12 minutes.

The second-place Bowling Green Hot Rods arrive in town next to challenge the Lugnuts, opening a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Friday on Pride Night. Left-hander Zach Logue (3.00 ERA) gets the start against Hot Rods left-hander Josh Fleming (0.82). To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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