Lansing Uses Long Ball to Doom Hawks 5-1

Published on August 2, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Taylor Cole pitched six strong innings and Griffin Murphy shut out the Silver Hawks over the final three innings as the Lansing Lugnuts defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 5-1 on Friday night at Coveleski Regional Stadium. The Hawks offense lay dormant for most of the game as the Lugnuts scored five unanswered runs after South Bend took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The South Bend Silver Hawks, Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, took an early lead in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Fidel Pena led off with a single back up the middle to center. Pena advanced to second on a 5-3 groundout by center fielder Breland Almadova and then to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly to left by right fielder Socrates Brito was enough to bring Pena home and put the Hawks in front 1-0.

Lansing roughed up South Bend starter Jesse Darrah (9-7) in the second to take a 3-1 lead and not look back. After a walk to designated hitter Kevin Patterson, Darrah gave up hits to right fielder Carlos Ramirez and catcher Santiago Nessy. Nessy hit a slow roller down the third baseline that stopped in fair territory just in front of the third base bag, allowing him to reach first on the infield single and load the bases. First baseman Jordan Leyland followed by lining a single into right to plate Patterson and Ramirez. Nessy was able to advance to third on the play and Leyland took second on the throw home from right. A 4-3 groundout by third baseman Kellen Sweeney brought Nessy home for the third run of the inning and gave the Lugnuts a 3-1 advantage. Darrah was able to escape future damage as he induced a groundout to first by center fielder Dwight Smith Jr. that Carter Bell was able to corral as he avoided the shrapnel of Smith Jr.'s broken bat.

The Hawks (67-43, 23-18) threatened in the bottom of the second. Left fielder Alex Glenn reached on an infield single to third and quickly stole second. Shortstop Andrew Velazquez's single to left put runners at the corners as Glenn advanced to third. Lansing starter Taylor Cole (6-10) ended the Hawks rally there as he was able to get Pena to groundout to end the inning.

The Lugnuts, Class-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, used the long ball to push across two more runs in the fifth. Leyland led off the frame with a towering solo homer to right on a 3-1 offering from Darrah. Two batters later, Smith Jr. followed with a solo homer of his own to right landing in almost the identical spot next to the video board to give Lansing a 5-1 lead.

The Lugnuts (47-62, 15-25) maintained their 5-1 lead for the rest of the contest. Cole pitched six innings with six strikeouts and allowing just one run before leaving the game after allowing the first two batters to reach in the bottom of the seventh inning. Catcher Michael Perez singled and went to third when Glenn singled to left-center field. This brought Lansing's manager out of the dugout and he summoned left-hander Griffin Murphy to try to escape the first and third, no out situation. Murphy first retired Velazquez on a fly ball to left that was too shallow to score a run. Pena then hit a foul pop to the first baseman on the first pitch he saw. Murphy completed the escape job by inducing Almadova to hit into a 6-4 forceout at second base to end the inning with the 5-1 lead intact.

Jose Jose entered the game in relief of Darrah to start the seventh inning. Darrah allowed five runs in six innings while striking out four and walking three in a losing effort for the Silver Hawks. Jose would pitch two shutout innings, allowing a lone baserunner in each inning. Thomas Brendel relieved Jose in the top of the ninth and sat down the Lugnuts in order to keep the score at 5-1 going into the bottom of the ninth.

Murphy remained on the mound for Lansing to start the ninth and first baseman Carter Bell led off the inning with a line drive single to left. Perez followed with a single that snuck through the infield between the short stop and second baseman, making it first and second with no outs. The Lansing bullpen started throwing in a hurry as the pitching coach made his way out to the mound to calm down Murphy. He settled down by striking out Glenn for the first out of the inning. With Velazquez batting, Murphy threw a ball in the dirt that looked like it would advance the runners to second and third. However, Bell got a poor jump off second and was hung up between the bases. The Lugnuts catcher threw down to third and as Bell scampered back to second, the third baseman threw across the diamond to get Perez retreating back to first base as he had gone to second when Perez went toward third. Perez could not beat the tag at first for the second out of the inning. With the Hawks momentum stunted by the baserunning error, Murphy (S, 1) retired Velazquez on a ground out to third to end the game and record his first save of the season.

The Hawks will now take their show on the road with a trip to Kentucky to face the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Rays, for a four game series. South Bend will be back in action at The Cove next Wednesday, August 7th as they square off with the Ft. Wayne TinCaps, Class-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Make sure to bring the little ones as kids 12 and under eat free as they will receive a voucher for a complimentary hot dog, chips and a drink.

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Midwest League Stories from August 2, 2013


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