His ERA, entering a bases-loaded third-inning jam Thursday, hovered around 4.00, more than two and a half runs higher than a Rande Muffick-besting 1.12 regular-season mark in 2024.
Lyng induced a pop-fly to escape immediate danger, holding Billings’ advantage to three runs, covered first base for the return throw of an inning-ending 3-6-1 twin-killing in the fourth, and stranded the potential go-ahead tally 90 feet away in the sixth.
A seventh-inning pop-out neutralized back-to-back two-out Scarlets singles, capping Lyng’s 4.1 scoreless frames in relief of starter James DeMers that recaptured the right-hander’s mojo and allowed Helena to walk off on a perfect Thursday night in Medicine Hat.
“I’ve had some struggles and I’ve been trying to work through it,” Lyng said.
“He kinda had his swagger back out there. It was good to see,” Senators head coach Jon Burnett said.
Lyng, at times, danced to music blaring over public address speakers between innings, smiled on the mound while controlling Billings’ run game, sprinted to catch a pop-fly around home plate, and picked up teammates time and again for sterling defensive efforts.
You know, normal Lyng activities for those who know him best, the product of breathing exercises offered by his cousin, Ian, living in Denver designed to calm and focus stressed individuals.
Lyng scattered three hits and punched out two Royals, firing 37 of 55 pitches for strikes.
