| Friday, April 23, 2010 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500 ext. 233 |
Shopshire, Lugnuts drop Dragons, 5-2
LANSING, Mich. – Balbino Fuenmayor knocked a two-run triple and Ryan Shopshire took a shutout into the eighth inning as the Lansing Lugnuts (9-7) defeated the Dayton Dragons (9-7), 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night on Jackson Field.
After getting swept at home by Lake County, the Lugnuts have won six of their last seven games.
In a rematch from Opening Day, Shopshire (2-0) easily outdueled Dayton starter Josh Ravin to earn his second consecutive victory. The tall Californian struck out seven while holding the Dragons off the scoreboard before Henry Rodriguez's one-out RBI double in the eighth.
The Lugnuts provided all of the run support Shopshire would need in the fourth against Ravin (0-1). With runners at first and second, a throwing error by the Dayton starter on Brad McElroy's bunt single allowed A.J. Jimenez to score. Three batters later, Fuenmayor cracked a 3-2 pitch off the wall in right-center to plate both McElroy and Sean Ochinko for a 3-0 lead.
Lansing added two more runs in the sixth on an Eric Eiland RBI single and a wild pitch by reliever Chase Ware.
Steve Turnbull pitched the ninth to earn his fourth save in as many chances.
The Lugnuts and Dragons play the middle affair of their three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m., with Lansing left-hander Evan Crawford (0-1, 2.08) countering Dayton right-hander Pedro Villarreal (0-1, 4.50).
Tickets to the April 26th Crosstown Showdown as well as the entire Lugnuts’ 2010 home schedule are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.
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