Lasko steals the show, Lugs wipe away whitecaps in opener

July 23, 2024 – Midwest League (MWL)
Lansing Lugnuts press release

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – On a night when West Michigan debuted its 19-year-old phenomenal center fielder Max Clark, it was Lansing’s 22-year-old center fielder Ryan Lasko who took center stage with two thrilling catches and two crucial hits, leading the Lugnuts (12-13, 44-46) to a 5-1 victory over the Whitecaps (12-12, 43-47) on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark.

Will Simpson and Cole Conn hit home runs for the Lugnuts to help them score the winning goal, aided by shutout ball from starter Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang and stellar substitutes Blaze Pontes and Hunter Breault.

But it was Lasko, the A’s 2023 second-round selection out of Rutgers and the No. 15 prospect in the organization, who received the praise intended for the Tigers’ top prospect Clark: He ran back to the warning track to haul in a fly ball from Kevin McGonigle in the first inning, leaped to the wall to grab extra bases from Eddys Leonard in the fourth, hit an RBI double in the fifth, made a spectacular diving catch of a Max Anderson line drive in the bottom of the fifth and closed the night with an iced RBI single in the ninth inning … all in his fourth Midwest League game after being promoted from Single-A Stockton.

Simpson’s second-inning home run against Austin Bergner, the rehabbing first baseman’s 11th homer of the year, flew over Clark’s glove, giving the Nuts an early 1-0 lead.

Four innings later, Conn hit his third home run of the year to left for a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Zhuang pitched four scoreless one-hit innings, striking out three — including a whiff of Clark to lead off the first. Pontes followed with 3 2/3 innings, waiting out a 36-minute delay, and allowing only a Seth Stephenson RBI fielder’s choice in the eighth inning. Breault made perfect last four outs for his sixth save.

The Nuts send Luis Morales to the mound Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. looking for a third straight win. West Michigan counters with right-hander Carlos Marcano.

Lansing then returns home for a six-game series, beginning July 30 against Dayton. For tickets and more information, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.

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