| Thursday, April 12, 2012 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500, extension 233 |
Lugnuts hang on, win 7th straight
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Ajay Meyer stranded the tying run at third base in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the Lansing Lugnuts’ (7-0) series-opening 3-2 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (3-4) at Fifth Third Ballpark on Thursday night.
Down 3-1 entering the ninth, Brandon Loy lined an infield single off of Meyer, with Steven Moya flaring a single of his own to put the tying runs on base. After Curt Casali dropped a two-strike sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, a Danry Vasquez sacrifice fly trimmed the lead to one run.
Meyer stiffened, however, retiring Colin Kaline on a flyout to center to notch his league-leading fourth save.
After a rocky first inning, Dave Rollins (Win, 1-0) settled down to toss five innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run before retiring the final eleven batters he faced.
The Whitecaps’ starter Tommy Collier (Loss, 0-1) started strong before giving up a pair of runs in the third on a Kenny Wilson sacrifice fly and an RBI single to Jon Berti, before Andy Burns delivered the final blow in the sixth with an RBI double.
Each team had multiple chances to score the rest of the way but both bullpens came up big and stranded eight runners over the final four innings.
Lugnuts right-hander Marcus Walden starts the second game of the four-game series, 6:35 p.m. on Friday night against Whitecaps lefty Kyle Ryan.Lansing returns to Cooley Law School Stadium at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, April 16th, opening a three game homestand against the South Bend Silver Hawks. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.
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