Rattlers strike Lansing to even series
Published on May 2, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers entered their weekend series with the Lansing Lugnuts with just three homers this season. Joe Dunigan has nearly doubled that total by himself in the first two games of the set. Dunigan's second homer of the series capped a 3-for-4 night, as the Timber Rattlers took a 5-2 decision from the Lugnuts to even the series.
His big night started in the second inning when he laced a double into left-center field that plated Ron Garth to make it 2-0. Juan Diaz's sacrifice fly earlier in the frame had put the first run on the board for Wisconsin.
The Timber Rattlers scratched across another run in the third on Edilio Colina's RBI double to right-center field that made it a 3-0 game.
Lansing was able to fight back with a run in the fourth when John Tolisano doubled home Darin Mastroianni to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Lugnuts trailed 4-1 in the sixth when they had their best opportunity for a rally in the game. After a Kevin Ahrens double and Mastroianni walk put two men on, Matt Liuzza ripped a double to left-center that scored Ahrens to make it a 4-2. Mastroianni then tried to score later in the inning when a pitch got away from Wisconsin reliever Travis Mortimore, but the ball bounced all the way back to plate off of the backstop and Mastroianni was tagged out to negate the run. C.J. Ebarb's strikeout ended the threat.
Dunigan then came back up in the ninth and drilled a solo homer that salted the game away at 5-2.
Donnie Hume (3-0) garnered the win after throwing 5 1/3 innings. He allowed both of the Lugnut runs on six hits while striking out eight batters.
Phillippe Aumont got his first save by hurling the final three innings without allowing a hit.
Nate Starner (1-3) took the loss for Lansing. He allowed four runs over five innings in his start. It marks the first time this season that he has allowed more than three runs in an outing.
Lansing (15-12) and Wisconsin (9-15) will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday night at Oldsmobile Park beginning at 7:05 p.m. with LAFCU Fireworks following the game. Brad Mills (1-1, 3.70) will get the call for the Lugnuts, while Michael Pineda (2-0, 0.75) will take the mound for Wisconsin.
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