Lansing Lugnuts Defeat the Dayton Dragons 4-2, Lugnuts Net 14 Strikeouts

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – Lansing, Mich.—Kevin Ahrens hit a three-run home run and four Lansing pitchers combined to scatter seven base hits and post 14 strikeouts as the Lugnuts defeated the Dayton Dragons 4-2 on Thursday.  The two clubs split the four game set. 

Despite the loss, the Dragons held onto a one game lead in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division.  Second place West Michigan lost to Fort Wayne Thursday afternoon. 

Dragons starting pitcher Luis Montano retired the first six batters of the game before running into major problems in the third inning.  He allowed five hits and four runs in the inning, keyed by the three-run homer by Ahrens, as Lansing took a 4-0 lead. 

It remained 4-0 until Dayton’s Kevyn Feiner drilled a solo home run in the seventh to get the Dragons on the board.  After Feiner’s home run, Justin Reed walked, stole second, and scored on Keltavious Jones’ single to center to make it 4-2.  Jones went to second on the throw to the plate and then advanced to third on a wild pitch.  But Zack Cozart struck out for the second out and after Denis Phipps walked, Brandon Waring struck out to end the threat.  The Dragons did not advance a runner past first base over the final two innings. 

Lansing pitchers were at their best in key situations in the game.  The Dragons collected just two hits in 16 at-bats with men on base and went a combined 1 for 9 with men in scoring position.

Montano (5-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings.  He walked no one and struck out six.

Feiner went 2 for 4 with the home run, his first of the year, and a bunt single as the only Dragon with more than one hit. 

Relievers Philippe Valiquette and Joseph Krebs combined to toss three scoreless innings for the Dragons, allowing just one base runner.  Valiquette struck out five in two innings. 

The Dragons open an eight game homestand on Friday at 7:05 p.m. against Great Lakes.  Scott Carroll (1-2, 3.16) will start for Dayton.  The game will be televised on Time Warner Digital Cable Channel 99.

Box Score: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_15_dayafx_lanafx_1

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