Lugnuts earn come-from-behind 5-4 victory
Published on June 14, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Kevin Patterson smashed a three-run eighth inning home run to power the Lansing Lugnuts (46-20) to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (31-36) on Thursday night at Parkview Field.
The Lugnuts trailed 4-1 entering the seventh, but Shane Opitz (2-for-3, walk) flipped a two-out, two-strike RBI single into centerfield.
In the three-run eighth inning, Andy Burns and K.C. Hobson singled against Chris Haney (Loss, 0-2) before Patterson whacked his sixth home run of the year to dead center to give Lansing the three-game series victory.
The Lugs scored first against Colin Rea in the second inning when K.C. Hobson smacked an RBI double to score Kevin Pillar.
That was all Rea surrendered in the game, however, as the righty tossed six innings, gave up just four hits, walked none and struck out a career-high eight batters.
The TinCaps capped off a span of four unanswered runs with a three-run fifth against reliever Blake McFarland, but the Lugnuts' bullpen tightened up afterward.
Kramer Champlin (Win, 3-1) threw a scoreless seventh inning before Ajay Meyer threw a perfect eighth and ninth innings to record his Midwest-League best 20th save this season.
Meyer received help to pick up the save; with one out, Casey McElroy made a bid for extra-bases with a liner deep down the left side, but Pillar made a spectacular diving catch to thwart the potential rally.
The Lugnuts All-Star left fielder finished an all-around superb evening with two hits and two runs scored in five at-bats.
Lansing All-Star right fielder Chris Hawkins did his part as well, throwing out TinCaps baserunners at the plate to end the second and fourth innings.
Nuts starter David Rollins worked to a no-decision, putting forth 3 2/3 innings of one run ball in which he gave up five hits, three walks and struck out two.
Manager John Tamargo, Jr. was ejected for the first time this season when he argued a play at first base that ended the top of the sixth inning. It was the first ejection of a Lugnut this season.
The Lugnuts begin their final series of the first half with a three-game set in Midland, Michigan, against the Great Lakes Loons. The series begins on Friday, June 15th at 7:05 p.m., with Marcus Walden (5-1, 2.48) on the mound for the Lugs opposed by Loons righty Arismendy Ozoria (3-3, 4.45).
The Lugnuts' next home game will take place on Friday, June 22nd, opening the second half against the Great Lakes Loons. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.
Midwest League Stories from June 14, 2012
- Kernels shut out Burlington, 8-0 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- LumberKings Swept at Home by Timber Rattlers - Clinton LumberKings
- Quad Cities Takes Rubber Match with Kane County, 4-3 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bees Can't Get Sweep, Lose 8-0 to Kernels - Burlington Bees
- Rattlers sweep Clinton with 9-1 win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Hawks Humble Captains 9-7 - Lake County Captains
- Snappers Are Playoff Bound - Beloit Sky Carp
- Wild Win for Loons - Great Lakes Loons
- Goeddel Drives in Run in Loss to Whitecaps - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Chiefs Fall 5-3, Eliminated from Playoff Race - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars out of First Half Playoff Contention - Kane County Cougars
- Lugnuts earn come-from-behind 5-4 victory - Lansing Lugnuts
- Loons Edge Dragons with 9th Inning Run - Dayton Dragons
- TinCaps Drop Rubber Game, 5-4 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Castillo Goes to DL, Rodriguez to All-Star Game - MWL1
- Bob Dylan to Perform at Parkview Field August 24, 2012 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Gameday for June 14 - Dayton Dragons
- Bees Clobber Kernels, 14-9 - Burlington Bees
- 6/14 - Purdue Coach, Schreiber, to Throw out First Pitch (Release Attached) - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Gary Mitchell activated from DL; Jairo Diaz placed on DL - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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