Long ball ends Lugnuts season
September 10, 2004 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING â It was all or nothing in game three as the Lugnuts jumped out early but a pair of homers by Kelly Hunt propelled West Michigan into the next round of the playoffs with the 3-2 win Friday night at Olds Park. The loss ends one of Lansing's most successful seasons while West Michigan won the series 2-1 to advance to play South Bend on Saturday.
Brian Dopirak reached in the first inning on an error by Whitecaps' starter Jordan Tata before Kevin Collins smashed a towering blast over centerfield for the early 2-0 lead. Hunt cut that in half in the fourth with a solo shot to left into the street.
Lansing missed a giant opportunity in the bottom half of the inning when Collins walked and Jake Fox ripped a double to right. Anthony Granato also walked to load the bases with only one out but Alberto Garcia grounded into an inning-ending double play to kill the Lugnuts' threat.
In the sixth, Juan Francia singled for the Whitecaps and moved to second on a sac bunt. Danilo Sanchez then drilled a RBI double off the left field wall before being thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. Hunt came up again with the bases empty and blasted another solo homer to center to take the lead.
The home run ended the night for Lansing starter Randy Wells, who gave up all three runs in five-plus innings while striking out seven. Jordan Tata shut the Lugnuts down after the first, going seven innings while allowing two runs, one earned, and striking out six.
The one-run lead held until the Lugnuts' last at-bat as Brian Dopirak led off the ninth with a double to right-center. Robinson Chirinos pinch ran for him and advanced to third on a groundout by Collins. Drew Larsen was then hit to put runners on the corners, but Fox went down swinging and Uriak Marquez popped out to end the game and eliminate Lansing from the playoffs. Lansing struggled at the plate in the series only scoring five runs on 15 hits in three games.
Midwest League Stories from September 10, 2004
- Cougars Advance to WDCS with 3 â2 win - Kane County Cougars
- Long ball ends Lugnuts season - Lansing Lugnuts
- LumberKings Sweep, Advance in MWL Playoffs - Clinton LumberKings
- C.O. Brown Stadium to host Bush campaign appearance - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
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