The Lansing Lugnuts rode a two-hit shutout and 11-hit offense to a 5-0 victory over the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday, Aug. 23, at Jackson Field, taking five of six games in the series, according to the official MiLB game recap.

Starter Tucker Novotny blanked Peoria through five innings, striking out six while allowing just two hits and two walks. It was Novotny's second start of the week against the Chiefs, and pitching coach Levi Kelly said the right-hander adjusted his approach for the rematch.

"I saw Tucker really get a slider going," Kelly said after the game. "Last outing when he faced these guys on Tuesday, he was mostly fastball/changeup, so he kind of switched his approach … more fastball slider tonight and then leaned on the changeup when needed."

Griffin Kirn kept Peoria off the bases through the sixth and seventh innings. Mitch Myers pitched a perfect eighth, and Luis Carrasco closed it out with a perfect ninth.

The offense gave Novotny early support. Rodney Green Jr. drove in three runs, including a two-run double in the second inning that put Lansing ahead 2-0. Gunner Gouldsmith launched his fifth home run of the season in the fourth, a solo shot to right field off Peoria starter Brian Holiday that pushed the lead to 3-0.

Gouldsmith finished with two hits and two runs scored. Bryan Arendt added an RBI double in the seventh, and Breyson Guedez collected two hits. Jake Reinisch went 1-for-4 with a walk, extending his team-high on-base streak to 34 consecutive games.

All but one Lugnut recorded a hit.

Peoria did not score over its final 15⅔ innings of the series, dating back to the eighth inning of the Aug. 21 game. The Lugnuts (24-29 in the second half, 53-64 overall) have won 13 of their last 15 games at Jackson Field..

Gouldsmith said the Lugnuts are embracing the spoiler role heading into their final road series against the playoff-contending Great Lakes Loons in Midland.

The Lugnuts have a Midwest League off day Monday, Aug. 24, then travel to Midland for a six-game series against the Great Lakes Loons from Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 30. Lansing returns to Jackson Field to host the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the final home series of 2026, Sept. 1 through Sept. 6.