LANSING – Some guys just have a knack for big hits. Raul Barron may very well be one of those guys. With runners at second and third and two men out in the eighth, Barron dropped a single into right field that scored both runners, giving the Lansing Lugnuts a thrilling 2-1 win over the Peoria Chiefs in front of 1,718 fans at Oldsmobile Park Wednesday night.

Barron's hit was his only one of the game and also produced the Lugnuts only lead of the night. It is his third game-winning hit in Lansing's final at-bat dating back to last season.

Peoria had held a 1-0 lead until Barron's hit as Josh Donaldson doubled off of the left field wall to plate Marquez Smith for the Chiefs' lone run, which came in the fifth. The lead was the only one that Peoria would hold during the entire series, as the Lugnuts took all three games from the visitors.

The Chiefs had two early opportunities to add more runs to their total, but they were turned away in both the second and third innings. With a man on first in the second frame, Kyle Burke smashed what appeared to be a long homer down the right field line, but home plate umpire Ben May ruled it foul, forcing Burke back to plate. He would subsequently strike out and the Chiefs would fail to score in the frame.

Peoria had another opportunity in the third when they loaded the bases against Lansing hurler Brad Mills with no men out. However Mills was able to settle down and get out of the frame by inducing Smith into pop out and fanning both Donaldson and Jovan Rosa.

Each pitching staff was solid throughout the contest. Four Lansing pitchers combined to hold the Chiefs to one run while scattering seven hits. Randy Boone (2-0) picked up the win relief by retiring the final six batters of the game in order.

The Peoria staff held Lansing off of the board until the pivotal eighth, where the Lugnuts scored both of their runs. Dustin Sasser (0-2) was saddled with the loss for the Chiefs after giving up the decisive runs in his only inning of work.

Lansing (12-7) will now take a night away from Midwest League action on Thursday in order to take on the Michigan State Spartans at Oldsmobile Park in the second annual Crosstown Showdown presented by Auto-Owners Insurance. The exhibition game is scheduled for seven innings and will begin at 6:05 p.m. The game will also feature $2 beer and soda specials for fans all night.

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
2nd: Moises Sierra makes a spectacular diving play in right.
8th: Raul Barron's single gives Lansing the 2-1 lead.
9th: Randy Boone closes the door on the sweep.