COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – A Beau Ankeney two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth boosted the West Michigan Whitecaps (26-19, 50-59) to a 7-5 walk-off win over the Lansing Lugnuts (19-25, 48-60) in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,939 at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps have walked off the Lugnuts in back-to-back games.
After three strong innings with four strikeouts from Jackson Nove in his High-A debut, a Christian Santana three-run bomb in the fourth cut the Lugnut lead to 4-3, and a Jackson Strong solo shot paired with a Samuel Gil RBI double in the fifth tied the game at 5-5.
After scoreless sixth, seventh and eighth innings, reliever Darlin Pinales recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the ninth before the Nuts switched to Luis Carrasco. On the second pitch of his at-bat, Ankeney launched the game-winning home run to center field for the walk-off victory.
The Nuts struck first in the top of the third inning; With one out, Myles Naylor reached first base on a throwing error from Gil at shortstop, advanced to second on a Pedro Pineda ground out and scored on a Breyson Guedez RBI single to shallow left-center field for a 1-0 advantage.
Bucciero followed by smoking a pitch from Whitecaps starter Win Scott for his second home run of the series and third of the season with the Nuts, a two-run blast that cleared the scoreboard in left field.
The Lugnuts kept it rolling in the fourth despite a pitching change for the Whitecaps, who brought in Maddox Long. After strikeouts from Ali Camarilloand Logan Sauve, Dylan Fien and Gunner Gouldsmith got aboard with back-to-back singles before Naylor ripped an RBI double past Gil, plating Fien for a 4-0 lead.
Bucciero continued his strong form into the fifth with a triple that found its way past a diving Strong in center field, and a Camarillo safety squeeze scored him for a 5-3 lead.
In relief, Griffin Kirn, Tzu-Chen Sha, and Ryan Brown blanked the ‘Caps in a combined three innings before Pinales allowed a run through 1 ⅔ innings and Carrasco surrendered the home run in the ninth.
Bucciero led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Samuel Dutton is scheduled to take the mound for game four of the series on Friday, opposing West Michigan southpaw Jojo Ingrassia. First pitch is set for 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.
# # #