| Saturday, May 19, 2012 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500, extension 233 |
DeSclafani, Syndergaard shine in 5-1 victory
EASTLAKE, OH – Held hitless till the sixth, the Lansing Lugnuts (30-12) gritted out a 2-1 series-opening victory over the Lake County Captains (21-21) at Classic Park on Saturday night.
In the first matchup of the season between the two hottest teams in the Midwest League, the Lugnuts were outhit 10-2 but scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning to reach the 30-win mark before any other MWL team.
Lugs pitchers stranded 12 Captains on base and held Lake County to 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Stymied by Captains pitcher Joe Colon for the first five frames, Lansing rallied in the sixth from a 1-0 deficit. Kellen Sweeney reached on a Francisco Lindor error leading off, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shane Opitz, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Kevin Pillar’s sacrifice fly to tie the score.
Chris Hawkins followed by recording the Lugnuts’ first hit of the game, smacking a clean single up the middle. Andy Burns roped his team-leading 13th double to left-center, cashing in Hawkins for a 2-1 lead.
The knocks by Hawkins and Burns proved to be Lansing’s only hits of the game – but they sufficed.
Blake McFarland (Win, 2-1) stranded five baserunners in four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out three.
Colon (Loss, 4-4) gave up a run before he gave up a hit in the tough-luck loss. The righty retired the first 14 hitters he faced before he stranded a two-out walk in the fifth. Colon gave up two hits, two runs, both unearned, walked one and struck out two in six innings of work.
Lugs starter Marcus Walden successfully walked a tightrope all night long during a one run, four inning performance that included one walk, seven hits and seven Captains left on base.
Ajay Meyer retired the Captains in order in the ninth to earn his MWL-leading 14th save this season.
Top prospect Justin Nicolino (2-0, 1.33) starts for Lansing in the middle affair of the series opposite Lake County right-hander Cody Anderson (4-1, 1.89). Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
The Lugnuts will return home Wednesday, May 23rd, against the Dayton Dragons to begin a seven-game homestand with a Ladies Night. 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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