Lugnuts Fall to South Bend, 6-3
September 1, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The South Bend Silver Hawks (30-34; 57-75) scored three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to erase a two-run deficit, nearly eliminating the playoff aspirations of the Lansing Lugnuts (26-38; 52-81) with a 6-3 victory on Tuesday night at Coveleski Stadium.
With the loss, the Lugnuts fell four games behind the Silver Hawks for the Eastern Division's final playoff spot with five games remaining in the season. Lansing's elimination magic number was reduced to two.
Lugnuts starter Ryan Shopshire brought a 2-0 lead to the sixth inning, only to see Ryan Wheeler's RBI triple break up the shutout. Dustin Antolin (1-5) relieved Shopshire and allowed Rossmel Perez's RBI single and Clayton Connor's RBI fielder's choice to put the Silver Hawks on top, 3-2.
An inning later, Reynaldo Navarro doubled the lead with an RBI double, and Alfredo Marte and Justin Parker added run-scoring singles against Yorman Mayora to provide insurance.
Johermyn Chavez crushed a solo home run in the eighth inning to draw the Lugnuts within 6-3, his 21st roundtripper of the year.
But Lansing would get no closer, as Justin Mace pitched around a two-out Balbino Fuenmayor single in a scoreless ninth.
South Bend starter Keny Sosa (2-3) earned the victory, striking out six while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings. Mace notched his 11th save of the season.
The Lugnuts return home for a 7:05 p.m. Wednesday affair to begin a three-game series at Oldsmobile Park against West Michigan. Right-hander Joel Carreno (2-2, 3.19) will start for Lansing, opposite Whitecaps right-hander Anthony Shawler (6-4, 4.13).
Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2009
- Lugnuts Fall to South Bend, 6-3 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Hawks Double Up Lugnuts, Extend Lead - South Bend Silver Hawks
- The Famous Chicken Returning to Fifth Third Ballpark - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Angels bolster Kernels roster for stretch run and playoffs - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Timber Rattlers wrap up home schedule with three games this week - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Gosse Headed to Toledo, Mercedes Promoted from GCL - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Clarification of TinCaps Playoff Schedule - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Lugnuts Drub Dragons, 7-3, Pull Within 3 Games of Playoffs - Lansing Lugnuts
- Chiefs take series finale, 5-1 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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