Lugnuts fall to Hot Rods in matinee, 8-3
Published on April 9, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
BOWLING GREEN, Kent. - The Lansing Lugnuts (3-3) allowed their second unusual inside-the-park home run in three days in dropping a second straight game to the Bowling Green Hot Rods (4-2), 8-3, on Tuesday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark.
Christian Lopes supplied the Lugnuts with a quick 1-0 lead thanks to his first home run of the season in the first inning, but Marty Gantt helped Bowling Green take the lead for good in the bottom of the second.
Facing Lansing starter Javier Avendano (Loss, 0-1) with teammate Ryan Dunn aboard and two outs, Gantt sent a slicing drive deep down the right field line. Carlos Ramirez caught up with the ball right on the stripe, grabbing it momentarily before hitting the padded barrier separating the field from a rolling berm down the right side. The ball fell out of Ramirez's glove and stayed in the field of play as the right fielder flipped over the barrier and fell out of sight, with Gantt and Dunn circling the bases all the while. The blow was Gantt's second home run of the year and led to seven unanswered runs on eight hits and three walks against Avendano in just 3 2/3 innings.
On Sunday, Lansing was victimized by an inside-the-park home run against Lake County after Leonardo Castillo's drive to center field temporarily lodged in the fence.
A day after drawing four walks, Bowling Green second baseman Tommy Coyle actively aided the offensive cause with three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored in four at-bats.
The Hot Rods also stole six bases against Lansing catcher Seth Conner, increasing their league-leading total to 15.
The 20-year-old Lopes provided the Lugnuts' lone offensive bright spot, notching a three-hit game for the second time in 2013.
Lugs reliever Griffin Murphy gave up one unearned run in three innings of relief following Avendano, with Arik Sikula working the final 1 1/3 frames scorelessly.
The Lugnuts look to avoid a three-game sweep when they play the finale of the series on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. ET, sending right-hander Taylor Cole (1-0, 0.00) against Bowling Green lefty Blake Snell (0-1, 1.80).
Lansing returns home to face the Michigan State Spartans in the Crosstown Showdown presented by Auto-Owners Insurance at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, April 11th. Lugnuts tickets are available for purchase at lansinglugnuts.com and by calling 517-485-4500, and Lugnuts text alerts are easily accessed by texting LUGNUTS to 313131.
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