| Monday, May 10, 2010 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500 ext. 233 |
Lugnuts come back, edge Caps, 6-5
LANSING, Mich. – Trailing 3-0 just three batters into the game, the Lansing Lugnuts (18-14) battled back against Tigers top prospect Jacob Turner to top the West Michigan Whitecaps (11-21), 6-5, on Monday night on Jackson Field.
Jamie Johnson led off the top of the first inning against Lugnuts starter Aaron Loup with a ringing triple to center field. Michael Rockett doubled in Johnson and Wade Gaynor crushed a long two-run homer to left as the echoes of the National Anthem were fading into the night.
Undeterred, the Lansing offense battled back.
The Lugnuts scored two runs in the third and two more in the fifth against Turner to tie the game, before taking the lead against reliever Victor Larez (2-5) in the sixth on Eric Eiland's sacrifice fly and Ryan Schimpf RBI single.
Winning pitcher Matt Wright (1-0) relieved Loup in the sixth inning and pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Casey Beck allowed a run in the eighth before Steve Turnbull set down the final four Whitecaps batters to earn his sixth save.
Turner took a no-decision, striking out three while allowing four runs on three hits and two walks in four-plus innings. His batterymate, Michigan State product Eric Roof, went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.
In the winning effort for the Lugnuts, center fielder Kenny Wilson went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs, a walk, and two stolen bases in his return from the Disabled List.
Lansing and West Michigan play the middle affair of their three-game series on a Dollar Dog Tuesday at Cooley Law School Stadium. Lugnuts lefty Evan Crawford (1-1, 3.13) will start against Whitecaps left-hander Jade Todd (0-4, 4.66), with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
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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