Streaking Lugnuts Walk Way to Eighth Straight

LANSING – The Lansing Lugnuts drew 14 walks Thursday night, but still needed extra innings to pull off their eighth consecutive win, a 4-3 decision over the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field. The victory ties Lansing for the second longest such streak in franchise history, trailing only a 10-game streak in April this season.

The game was tied 3-3 in the 10th inning of play when Lansing's Jonathan Diaz tripled to right-center and scored on a Terrell Young wild pitch that put the Lugnuts up 4-3.

Lansing had to sweat it out in the bottom half of the frame when center fielder Chris Emanuele dropped the final out. However Travis Snider was there to pick up the baseball and throw Drew Stubbs out at second base to end the game.

Lansing had taken the lead in the second inning when Paul Franko doubled home Matt Lane to make it 1-0.

Julio Pinto made the start on the hill for the Lugnuts and pitched well, but did not factor into the decision. The starter tossed five innings of two-hit baseball and left with the lead.

The Dragons were able to take advantage of the Lugnuts' bullpen in the sixth, as Stubbs singled home Logan Parker to knot the game at 1-1.

The Lugnuts regained the lead in the top of the eighth without the benefit of a hit, as the coaxed four walks and a hit batsman to make the score 3-1. Still the Dragons were able to battle back and put two runs on the board to tie the game again, highlighted by Stubbs's second RBI single of the game.

Chris Reddout (8-1) got the win in relief for Lansing, as he surrendered two hits in two frames of work.

Zach Dials recorded his first save of the year.

Young (1-4) took the loss for the Dragons by allowing one run on two hits over two innings.

Lansing (75-60, 40-26) and Dayton (77-59, 32-34) will complete the series on Friday night as the Lugnuts look to finish off their second straight series sweep. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.