Lugnuts let lead and game slip away to Whitecaps
Published on July 4, 2004 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
Lansing, MIâ Lansing shot out to an early four-run lead but could not hang on as West Michigan came barreling back for the 6-5 win Sunday evening at Olds Park. A season-high 11,927 fans were in attendance for the Lugnuts fourth of July celebration.
In the first, Chris Walker led off the game with a walk for the Lugnuts (4-7, 42-39). Robinson Chirinos then singled to right to put Walker on third. Brian Dopirak smashed the next pitch well over the centerfield wall for the three-run homer. The hit extends Dopirak's hitting streak to 23 games.
Lansing went with the long ball again in the second, as Alberto Garcia took West Michigan starter Chris Steinborn deep to right for the solo shot and the 4-0 lead. The Whitecaps (5-6, 34-46) got a dose of power in the third when Kurt Piantek hit a solo homer to center. Lansing would answer with a run in the bottom half on Carlos Mejia's RBI double off the left field wall to go up 5-1.
That would be all the Lugnuts would get though as the momentum turned. The rain started coming down in the fifth when West Michigan made their move. Garth McKinney went yard to cut the lead to three. Piantek singled and Nick McIntyre walked to put two on for Vince Blue, who drove them both in on a double to left. Juan Francia then tied it up with a squeeze bunt to bring in Blue.
In the ninth, Francia dropped down another bunt but for a single this time. Lansing's Clay Rapada tried to pick him off at first but threw it away as Francia moved to third. Eric Rodland sent a sacrifice fly to center to allow Francia to tag up and score what would be the winning run.
Steinborn (5-8) went 8.0 innings for West Michigan for the win, giving up all five runs and striking out six. Lansing starter Robert Ransom got no decision allowing five earned runs in six innings of work while striking out four. Rapada (4-4) would get the loss allowing the run in the ninth.
Lansing and West Michigan go at it again Monday night with lefty Justin Jones on the hill for the Lugnuts against the Whitecaps' Daniel Zell. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Midwest League Stories from July 4, 2004
- Opportunity, Loss; Silver Hawks Lose Second Straight Extra Inning Game - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Cougars beat the Rattlers 5 - 2 - Kane County Cougars
- Bees Weather Another Delay; Win 5th Straight - Burlington Bees
- Lugnuts let lead and game slip away to Whitecaps - Lansing Lugnuts
- 'Caps Get Bang out of Holiday Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Battle Creek streak hits three - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Dragons Rolled on Independence Day by Swing 14-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Offensive fireworks key Swing's 14-3 blowout win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars claw past rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- The return of Blake Balkcom's 3 RBI fuel Kernels' win over Clinton - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Rain Saturday means Fireworks Tuesday - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Reds shake up Dragon's roster - Dayton Dragons
- Fireworks, Appreciated Fireworks Night Moved To Tuesday With Advertisers Appreciation Night - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Coonrod heads west, Bechtel returns; Right-handers switch teams in Padres organization - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Duncan moved to Tampa Yankees - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
