Lugnuts avoid sweep, beat TinCaps, 8-5
Published on August 24, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Sean Ochinko doubled twice and drove in four runs and the Lansing Lugnuts (27-30; 63-63) held off the Fort Wayne TinCaps (36-21; 72-55), 8-5, to avoid a four-game sweep at Parkview Field.
Coupled with West Michigan's 9-3 loss at Great Lakes, the Lugnuts pulled within two games of the Whitecaps for the Eastern Division's final playoff berth.
Fort Wayne starter Mike Watt (5-5) was sent to the showers early, done in by an Ochinko three-run double in the first inning and by a three-run rally in third that also featured an Ochinko RBI double.
But the TinCaps chipped away at the 6-0 deficit against Dave Sever and relievers Danny Barnes and Nestor Molina. Solo tallies in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings halved the Lugnuts lead.
A Kevin Ahrens RBI single in the seventh inning was answered by two TinCaps runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, making the score 7-5.
The Caps drew no closer.
Michael Crouse homered in the ninth inning to provide insurance, the 19-year-old's first home run at the Single-A level, and Casey Beck struck out the side in the ninth around a Jason Hagerty single, recording his fourth save of the year.
Sever (6-9) earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Lansing and West Michigan open a crucial three-game series at Fifth Third Ballpark on Wednesday, 13 games remaining in the regular season.
Lansing sends right-hander Matt Fields (4-7, 4.14) to the mound on Wednesday night, a 7:00 p.m. affair at Fifth Third Ballpark against Whitecaps righty Trevor Feeney (10-12, 3.44).
Tickets to all Lugnuts home games are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.
Midwest League Stories from August 24, 2010
- 'Caps Drop Finale, Split Series with Loons - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Lugnuts avoid sweep, beat TinCaps, 8-5 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Hagerty Named MWL All-Star - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bustabad Joins 700 Club with 9-3 Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Bandits Drop Series Finale with Cougars 3-1 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Odorizzi & Rosario Combine on No-Hitter at Cedar Rapids - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Bats Back Wilhelmsen as Kings Punish Peoria - Clinton LumberKings
- Lugnuts avoid sweep, win 8-5 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cougars Take Finale against Bandits - Kane County Cougars
- Chiefs Get Blasted Out of Clinton to Finish Series - Peoria Chiefs
- 8-Run Inning Lifts Dragons to Win and 4-Game Sweep - Dayton Dragons
- Early Runs Enough for Eitel and Hawks - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Morrison Wraps Up Big Series In Loss To South Bend - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Carlos Silva to Rehab with Chiefs Friday - Peoria Chiefs
- Bustabad Named Manager of the Year - Great Lakes Loons
- Franklin, Ramirez Named MWL Post-Season All-Stars - Clinton LumberKings
- Mike Trout Named MWL MVP & Prospect of the Year - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bandits and LumberKings to Play Two on Thursday - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Two Hawks Named Post Season All-Stars - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Three Rattlers Named MWL Postseason All-Stars - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Salinas, Lamarre Promoted from Dragons - Dayton Dragons
- Midwest League Names 2010 Post Season All-Star Team - MWL1
- Rattlers Hold Kids Rock the Ballpark Day on August 30 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Gameday for Tuesday, August 24 - Dayton Dragons
- Wisconsin stuns Kernels, 6-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Beloit Steals Victory in Burlington - Burlington Bees
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