Watson gem helps Lugs right ship, 5-1

EASTLAKE, OH - Behind six shutout innings from Troy Watson , the Lansing Lugnuts (18-19, 50-56) erased the memory of a home sweep against South Bend with a 5-1 victory at Lake County Captains (20-17, 60-46) on Tuesday night at Classic Park, opening an eight-game road trip.

The Lugnuts had been outscored 36-12 in losing three games at home to the Cubs, dropping their record to 22-31 at Cooley Law School Stadium. They looked immediately looked far more at home away from Michigan's state capital, improving their road mark to 28-25 with a comfortable win in the first tilt of the four-game series.

Watson (Win, 5-2) limited the Captains to two hits and four walks, with nary a strikeout, in posting his third straight quality start with the Lugnuts.

Hunter Steinmetz and Rafael Lantigua supplied RBI singles in the first inning against Lake County starter Thomas Ponticelli (Loss, 3-4), with Gabriel Moreno doubling the lead to 4-0 with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

Randy Pondler (Save, 1) relieved Watson and pitched the final three innings in his Midwest League debut, allowing an unearned run on an error by shortstop Otto Lopez in the seventh.

A Ryan Gold grounder, booted by first baseman Miguel Jerez, supplied the final run in the ninth.

Steinmetz, Moreno and Tanner Kirwer each finished the game 2-for-4, with Steinmetz scoring three of the Lugnuts' five runs and adding an outfield assist.

Lugnuts right-hander Cobi Johnson (4.54 ERA) starts the second game of the series at 11 a.m. Wednesday, opposing Captains right-hander Alex Royalty (4.11).

The Nuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium for a three-game series with the South Bend Cubs from August 7-9, capped off by LAFCU Fireworks on Friday, August 9th. To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com, call (517) 485-4500 or come to the Cooley Law School Stadium box office at 505 E. Michigan Ave. in downtown Lansing.
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