
Lugs win 8th straight, finish undefeated homestand
Published on May 23, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING, Mich. - Strong starting pitching from Daniel Norris and poor defense from the Lake County Captains (15-29) helped the Lansing Lugnuts (21-23) to a 6-1 win on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
Lansing completes the homestand with a perfect 7-0 record, extending its winning streak to eight straight games.
Norris had his best outing of the season for the Lugs, setting a career-high with 10 strikeouts in four innings pitched. Norris kept the Captains scoreless, allowing just three hits and issuing a pair of walks.
Norris' 10 strikeouts were a season-high for a Lugnuts pitcher this season, and Lansing's 15 total strikeouts from the staff were also a season-high.
In near piggyback fashion, Kramer Champlin (Win, 2-1) came on and tossed four innings of scoreless relief, allowing just four hits and striking out four more Captains' bats.
The Captains did manage to bring a run home in the ninth inning, allowing Wil Browning to convert on his third save of the season; retiring the only batter he faced to end the game.
Lake County's 71 errors coming into the ballgame were most in the Midwest League and the Captains proceeded to commit a season-high six miscues on Thursday night.
Two of them came in the first inning, leading to Lansing's first run. Dalton Pompey reached on a two-base error by Erik Gonzalez to lead off the ballgame and he came in to score on an error by Lake County pitcher Ryan Merritt.
After a walk was drawn by Christian Lopes, Kevin Patterson blasted a two-run homer to right to give the Lugnuts a 3-0 lead. Patterson has now homered in back-to-back games and four of his five home runs this year with Lansing have come against Lake County.
Two more errors in the seventh and eighth frames allowed the Lugnuts to plate three more, highlighted by a two-run single from Dwight Smith, Jr.
Lake County countered with a southpaw of their own, but Ryan Merritt (Loss, 2-4) was overshadowed by Norris. Merritt tossed six innings, allowing three runs - two earned - on four hits. He struck out four Lugnuts batters with one walk, but one mistake to Patterson and some mistakes from his defense failed him.
Following the off day on Friday, the Lugnuts will travel to South Bend to start a 10-game road trip with three against the Silver Hawks. Lansing will send right-hander Javier Avendano (4-2, 5.19) to the mound.
Lansing 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.
Midwest League Stories from May 23, 2013
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