LANSING – Several dubious streaks came to an end Wednesday night as the Lansing Lugnuts tossed their first shutout of the season in an 8-0 win over the Dayton Dragons before 982 fans at Oldsmobile Park. The win snapped a three-game slide for Lansing.

The Lugnuts had a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when starting pitcher Nate Starner allowed three straight singles to the Dragons that loaded the bases with no men out. However Starner was able to buckle down and fan Zack Cozart, Denis Phipps, and Brandon Waring in order to extinguish the Dayton threat.

Lansing's offense, which has averaged just over two runs per game in their last seven contests, finally woke up from its slumber and gave Starner plenty of run support. The Lugnuts rallied in the third frame to open up an insurmountable lead.

Matt Liuzza's RBI single into center field plated Justin Jackson to make it a 2-0 game. John Tolisano followed that with a sacrifice fly and Manny Rodriguez singled home Liuzza from second base to put Lansing up 4-0.

The Lugnuts put three more runs on the board in the fifth. Liuzza followed Darin Mastroianni's lead-off single with a prodigious homer that just stayed inside the left-field foul pole. The clout made it a 6-0 game. It also marked the first dinger for the Lugnuts in their last 10 games.

Lansing added another run in the in the inning when Yohermyn Chavez and Mike McDade hit back-to-back doubles, pushing the lead to 7-0. McDade finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. It was his first three-hit game of the year.

Liuzza's sacrifice fly in the sixth capped the scoring for the Lugnuts, who had a baserunner in each of the first seven innings. Liuzza finished the contest by going 2-for-4 with the homer and four RBI.

The game also marks the first time in 12 outings that the Lugnuts offense produced double-digit hits, as they pounded out 12 in the victory.

Starner pitched well as he allowed just four hits and struck out eight, but he only lasted four innings.

Instead Alan Farina (2-1) picked up the win by tossing three hitless innings for Lansing. Tim Collins threw the final two in order to complete the shutout.

Matt Klinker (2-2) took the loss for the Dragons after surrendering four runs on six hits over four innings of work.

Lansing (18-19) and Dayton (21-15) will wrap up the series on Thursday night at Oldsmobile Park. It will be a Labatt Blue Light Thirsty Thursday, with beer and soda on-sale for just $2. Brad Mills (2-2, 3.79) will take the mound for the Lugnuts, while Luis Montano (5-1, 2.68) will hurl for the Dragons. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
3rd: Starner works out of a bases loaded jam.
3rd: Manny Rodriguez drives home a run for Lansing.
5th: Matt Liuzza goes deep for the Lugnuts.