| Wednesday, September 5, 2012 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500, extension 233 |
TinCaps stymie Lugnuts in Game 1, 5-2
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Lansing Lugnuts stranded 12 runners on base and went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 Game 1 loss against the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Wednesday night at Parkview Field.
The Lugnuts return to Lansing on Thursday needing a win to extend their season.
Lansing built a 2-1 advantage after striking twice with two outs against TinCaps starter James Needy. With two outs in the second inning, Gustavo Pierre (3-for-5) delivered an RBI double to score Chris Hawkins. In the third inning with a pair of outs, K.C. Hobson (3-for-5) drove in Jason Leblebijian with a double.
The Lugs continued to rally, placing exactly two runners on base in the fourth through eighth innings, but were unable to score any further. That failure proved costly.
The TinCaps seized control in the fifth. Travis Jankowski’s RBI single tied the score at 2-2, and a subsequent throwing error from Lugs reliever Shawn Griffith put the home squad into the lead for good.
Needy (Win, 1-0) worked five innings, allowed two runs and struck out a season-high tying seven while walking just two.
Lugnuts starter Noah Syndergaard (Loss, 0-1) pitched four innings plus three batters, departing without recording an out in the fifth. The righty allowed six hits and three runs in all, walking one and striking out five.
Jankowski added another RBI single in the sixth inning against Griffith, increasing the ‘Caps’ lead to 4-2.
Fort Wayne closer Matt Stites (Save, 1) recorded the final four outs of the game, striking out Leblebijian swinging on a 3-2 pitch with the tying runs aboard in the eighth.
Stubblefield launched a solo home run off Brandon Berl in the eighth to close out the scoring.
Stites set down the side in order in the ninth to bring the TinCaps one win from the Eastern Division Finals.
The Lugnuts will need to win Game 2 at home on Thursday, September 6th at 7:05 p.m. in order to keep their season alive. The game is a special Labatt Blue Light Thirsty Thursday featuring $2 beer and pop specials, with The Verve Pipe playing a postgame concert.
Team MVP Justin Nicolino (10-4, 2.46) receives the start for Lansing against the TinCaps’ Matt Wisler (5-4, 2.53). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.# # #
