Davis drives Lugnuts to 8-2 win over Chiefs

LANSING, Mich. – Jared Davis drove in five runs, and the Lansing Lugnuts (22-28, 51-63) collected 14 hits en route to a dominant 8-2 win over the Peoria Chiefs (23-27, 55-61) in front of a Thursday-night crowd of 5,576 at JacksonⓇField™.

The Lugnuts have won 11 of their last 12 home games and are 31-23 in Lansing this season.

“I just feel like we're so comfortable here,” catcher Dylan Fien said. “And we just play free, loose, and just play our game while we're at home.”

The Lugnuts pounced on Peoria starter Ty Van Dyke in the first inning. With one out, Breyson Guedez hit a single to left before advancing to second on a passed ball, Daniel Bucciero reached first on a fielding error by third baseman Ryan Weingartner, and Jake Reinisch loaded the bases with a dribbler single up the left foul line. A Dylan Fien RBI infield single followed, plating Guedez for the opening run. Two batters later, Davis fired a three-run double into the right-field corner to plate Bucciero, Reinisch and Fien for a quick 4-0 lead.

Those four runs, it turned out, would be enough to win the game – but the Nuts weren’t done.

With one out in the third inning, Reinisch drew a walk and Fien sent a double into right before Davis knocked in both runners with a soft fly ball to shallow right field to build a 6-0 advantage.

After a walk by Gunner Gouldsmith to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, Pedro Pineda capped off the Nuts’ scoring with a two-run homer to left field, his seventh of the campaign.

In the winning cause, Samuel Dutton turned in his seventh quality start of the season, limiting the Chiefs to four hits, two runs and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.

“The fastball, the sweeper, change-up, all of his pitches were just working,” Fien said. “And he's kind of a fierce competitor on the mound, so that was good to see. He's just always dialed in and giving it his A-game.”

Darlin Pinales blanked the Chiefs in the seventh and eighth innings, striking out three before Gerlin Rosario finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

On offense, all but one Lugnut recorded a hit. Davis finished 3-for-4 with a double and five RBIs. In two games with the Lugnuts, Davis is 5-for-6 with two doubles, one run scored, one walk and five RBIs.

“I would say I’m just keeping it simple, 'cause this game is really hard, so see ball, hit ball,” Davis said about his consistent start.

“He's swinging at good pitches, and he's finding the holes, and he's keeping his swing short because I think he now recognizes the type of hitter he is,” manager Javier Godard said. “He's a line drive hitter, the guy that has to get on base, look for a hole, get guys over.”

Fien went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, C.J. Pittaro hit 2-for-4, and Pineda finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs.

“I just felt like I was seeing… the ball well,” Fien said. “It was kinda one of those days where I was just getting my pitch and I was executing. I know there's a couple at-bats where I kinda needed to fight some pitches off and just put something in play, and luckily I was able to do so. But just an overall just feeling comfortable at the plate.”

Jose Dicochea is slated to make his first start of the season on Friday, taking on Peoria’s Brandon Clarke. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a Barbie-themed game day, with a special ticket package available that includes a Barbie belt pack and LAFCU fireworks set for after the game. First pitch is at 7:05. For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.

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