LANSING – The Lansing Lugnuts scored five times in the eighth inning to blow open a close game and take a 7-3 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps before 7,123 fans at Oldsmobile Park.

Lansing lead the game 2-1 entering the eighth, but the Lugnuts offense was able to explode against the Whitecaps bullpen in order to put the game away. Justin Jackson started the frame off by drawing a walk from reliever Noah Krol, who then hit Matt Liuzza. C.J. Ebarb's single loaded the bases for Lansing, where John Tolisano was then able to coax another walk that plated Jackson to make it 3-1.

Krol was lifted from the game in favor of Rudy Darrow, who immediately gave up a bases clearing triple to Manny Rodriguez that pushed the Lugnuts' lead to 6-1. Yohermyn Chavez's bloop double brought Rodriguez home to end the scoring at 7-1.

The Lugnuts had trailed 1-0 as the Whitecaps scored in the top of the first to take the lead. However Lansing answered back quickly in the bottom of the inning when Darin Mastroianni scored on a throwing error by the Whitecaps starting pitcher Alfredo Figaro. Jackson later crossed the plate in the frame on a sacrifice fly by Ebarb that gave the Lugnuts a 2-1 lead.

Brad Mills (2-2) got the victory for Lansing as he allowed just one unearned run over 6 1/3 innings, marking his longest outing of the year. He scattered three hits and fanned eight in the start.

Alan Farina notched his first save by tossing the final two innings. He gave up two runs on back-to-back solo homers in the ninth by Chris Carlson and Casper Wells.

Figaro (4-1) entered the game as the Minor League Baseball ERA leader, but allowed two earned runs in the first inning to the Lugnuts. They would be the only two runs that he surrendered, as he threw six innings in a quality start. His ERA now stands at 0.80.

The series will now shift to Comstock Park, Michigan as Lansing (17-16) and West Michigan (18-14) will play the final two games of the set this weekend at Fifth Third Ballpark. Randy Boone (3-0, 1.59) is scheduled to make the start for the Lugnuts. He will face the Whitecaps' southpaw Manny Miguelez
(0-1, 6.08). Game time is slated for 2:00 p.m.

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
8th: Manny Rodriguez blows the game open with a bases clearing triple.