Lugnuts blank Bees in opener, 2-0
April 19, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
BURLINGTON, IA - Justin Nicolino and Aaron Sanchez each threw three innings and struck out three in a two-hit shutout, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (12-2) over the Burlington Bees (6-8), 2-0, on Thursday night at Community Field.
The victory marked Lansing's league-leading fourth shutout of the year, its third in the last four games. The pitching staff lowered its team ERA to a sparkling 1.73.
Nicolino limited the Bees to only a B.A. Vollmuth two-out single in the first inning. Sanchez (Win, 2-0) ran into slightly more trouble, serving up a leadoff double to Sean Jamieson in the fourth before setting down eight of the next nine batters.
Brandon Berl came out of the bullpen and tossed a perfect seventh and eighth innings before Ajay Meyer (Save, 6) threw a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his Midwest League-leading sixth save of the year.
In all, the Lugnuts pitching staff retired the final thirteen hitters they faced and did not allow a hit in the final five innings.
The only scoring in the game came in the Lugnuts' third inning. Markus Brisker led the frame off with a walk and Kenny Wilson drove him in with an RBI triple right before Carlos Perez drove an RBI single to right off of the Bees' starter Raul Alcantara (Loss, 0-2).
Wilson recorded the only multi-hit performance of the game, going 2-for-4 with the RBI triple and a run scored.
The Lugnuts send Central Michigan product Jesse Hernandez (1-0, 1.38) to the mound for game two of the three-game series against Burlington right-hander Sean Murphy (0-1, 2.89). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Community Field.
The Lansing Lugnuts return home to Cooley Law School Stadium on Wednesday, April 25th, beginning a six-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m. "Ladies Night" against Kane County. Tickets are available for purchase at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.
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