Lugnuts Top Dragons, 3-2
Lugnuts Top Dragons, 3-2 Pettway's Blast Lifts Lansing to Win
LANSING- Brian Pettway's solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Lansing Lugnuts to a 3-2 victory over the Dayton Dragons in the series opener at Oldsmobile Park Tuesday night before 2,487 fans.
Justin Mallet entered the game for Dayton in the sixth to replace starting pitcher Travis Wood, who went five innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Mallet, who was making his first appearance of the season, faced Brian Pettway to lead the inning off. Pettway then smacked his ninth homer of the year off of the scoreboard in center field to give Lansing a 3-2 lead.
The Lugnuts tied the game an inning earlier when Jacob Butler roped a triple to center field that plated Jesus Gonzalez to make the score 2-2.
Dayton had taken the lead in the fourth frame when its only two runs of the game crossed the plate. Trailing 1-0, Jay Bruce led the inning off with a double to center field. He was promptly followed by a Habelito Hernandez bunt single down the third base line. Anthony Hatch threw the ball wildly as Hernandez was heading for first, which allowed Bruce to score on the play to tie the game at 1-1. Hernandez then scored on a B.J. Szymanski double to left-center field that gave the Dragons a 2-1 lead.
Kristian Bell had another solid start for the Lugnuts, tossing seven innings while sacrificing just two runs on five hits. He picked up his fourth win of the season in the game.
Paul Phillips notched his ninth save for Lansing by shutting down the Dragons in the ninth.
Lansing (35-22) and Dayton (27-32) will continue the four game set on Wednesday at Oldsmobile Park. Russ Savickas (2-0, 2.20) will start for the Lugnuts, while Carlos Fisher (4-3, 2.97) will take the hill for the Dragons. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. |
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Courtesy of the Lugnuts!