| Thursday, September 6, 2012 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500, extension 233 |
TinCaps eliminate error-prone Lugnuts, 9-6
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts season came to a close in a 9-6 loss after allowing nine unanswered runs to the Fort Wayne TinCaps in Game 2 of best-of-three 1st round of the Midwest League postseason on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Lugnuts were swept in the first round of the playoffs after three errors, two by Major League rehabber Brett Lawrie at third base and one by K.C. Hobson at first base, leading to six decisive unearned runs.
The TinCaps, who trailed 6-0 entering the fifth inning, completed their six run comeback when Jace Peterson lined a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to give Fort Wayne a 7-6 lead.
Lee Orr helped to spark the comeback delivering a solo home run to lead off the TinCaps’ four-run seventh inning that tied the game. He laced a double to begin the eighth inning against Lugnuts reliever Kramer Champlin (Loss, 0-1) before scoring on Peterson’s go-ahead single. In the ninth, Orr added a pair of insurance runs with a two-RBI double in the ninth off Ajay Meyer.
The Lugnuts opened an early lead against starter Matt Wisler, who was knocked out after allowing six runs in 3 2/3 innings.
All-Star right fielder Chris Hawkins (2-for-5) took it upon himself to ignite the early offense, smashing a three-run homer with two outs in the third inning.
Lansing tacked on another three runs in the fourth inning thanks to three run-scoring hits. Gustavo Pierre (1-for-4) smacked an RBI double. Shane Opitz grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice. Major-League rehabber Brett Lawrie (3-for-4) mashed an RBI triple to give the Lugnuts a 6-0 lead.
The TinCaps bullpen continued to toss shutout baseball. Five arms out of the bullpen combined to work 5 1/3 scoreless frames against the Lugnuts after throwing four scoreless innings on Wednesday.
Luis De La Cruz (Win, 1-0) struck out Pierre with two runners in scoring position to end the seventh on his way to 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Matt Stites (Save, 2) worked around a leadoff single before striking out a pair in the scoreless ninth inning.
Starter Justin Nicolino threw well in a no-decision for the Lugnuts. The lefty worked five innings, allowed two runs, one earned, walked two and struck out four.
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