Lugnuts End Yankees' Season

Published on September 7, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release


BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The Lansing Lugnuts ended the Battle Creek Yankees' season with a 4-0 victory in the Midwest League Eastern Division championship series Sunday night at C.O. Brown Stadium. Lansing swept the best-of-three series in two games, and will meet either Beloit or Clinton for the MWL championship. That series is tied at a game apiece.

The Battle Creek franchise has qualified for the playoffs eight times in nine seasons — and has never beaten the Lugnuts in four playoff series. Lansing has an 8-2 edge in postseason games against Battle Creek.

The Lugnuts' sixth straight win puts them in the MWL championship series for the second straight year. They lost to Peoria in four games last season.

Four Lansing pitchers combined on a two-hitter as the Yankees were shutout for the first time since Aug. 9. The Lugnuts pulled away from a 1-0 lead after eight innings with three runs in the ninth.

The Yankees got just a pair of lead-off singles — by Gabe Lopez in the third and by Omir Santos in the sixth — against the league's second-ranked pitching squad. Lopez got to second with a stolen base, but no farther. Pinch-runner Kaazim Summerville got to third, but an infield fly out ended the inning.

Lansing took a 1-0 lead in the third on a single and a double to start the inning, then a sacrifice fly. The Lugnuts scored three runs in the ninth on three hits and an error.

Battle Creek starter T.J. Beam went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk. He fanned five. Lansing starter Sean Marshall allowed just two hits in 6.2 innings, walked two and struck out seven.

EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (BEST-OF-3)
Saturday
Lansing 11, Battle Creek 4
Sunday
Lansing 4, Battle Creek 0

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Midwest League Stories from September 7, 2003


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