Lugnuts Rise Over Dragons and .500 Mark, 6-5
June 25, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING, Mich. - Jon Talley's two-out RBI single broke an eighth inning tie, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (1-0) above the .500 mark for the first time in 2009 with a 6-5 victory over the Dayton Dragons (0-1), played before a Thirsty Thursday crowd of 7,812 at Oldsmobile Park.
A season after winning the Eastern Division first half title, the Lugnuts had begun the first half of 2009 with four straight losses, plummeting to as low as 18 games below .500 on June 20.
The start of the new half, following Tuesday's All-Star Game, brought both optimism and a resilient offense.
Trailing 3-0 after the top of the first inning, Lansing fought back. Throwing errors by Dayton catcher Jordan Wideman and starter Josh Ravin led to a game-tying three-run rally in the second inning.
Two frames later, Johermyn Chavez's two-run double gave Lansing a 5-3 lead... only to see Dragons first baseman Mike Konstanty respond with a two-out, two-run triple in the seventh to deadlock the score once more.
With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the eighth inning, Mark Sobolewski lined a double to left off of Dayton reliever Jordan Hotchkiss (0-2). Talley followed with a looping base hit down the right field line, putting the Lugnuts back on top.
Lansing closer Matt Daly struck out the side around a one-out single to lock down his 13th save, fanning the final two batters on just six pitches.
Relief pitcher Boomer Potts (4-1) picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The two teams play the second game in their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night at Oldsmobile Park. The game will feature an Auto-Owners Insurance Bobblehead Giveaway with post-game LAFCU Fireworks. Tickets may be purchased via www.lansinglugnuts.com or by calling the Oldsmobile Park Box Office at (517) 485-4500.
The starting pitching match-up in the game will see Lansing right-hander Josh Wells (3-8, 7.60) battle Dayton right-hander Lance Janke (3-3, 3.58).
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