Whitecaps Surge Past Lansing
July 4, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING - For the second straight night, back-to-back big innings put the Lugnuts in a hole too deep to recover from. West Michigan scored four runs in the sixth and seventh innings and held on for a 10-8 win over Lansing at Oldsmobile Park Monday night before 7,681 fans. The loss marks the first time this season that Lansing has dropped consecutive home games.
The Lugnuts trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning before loading the bases with one out. Brian Pettway then roped a triple past the outstretched Justin Justice in left field to clear the bases and give the Lugnuts a 3-2 lead.
Lansing led 4-2 in the fifth inning when Jacob Butler and Yuber Rodriguez each ripped RBI singles to push the advantage to 6-2.
The Whitecaps tied the game in the sixth inning with the first of their two big innings. Mike Holliman drilled a two run homer to right field to cut the lead to 6-4.
Then, with runners at first and second base, William Rhymes singled into center field to plate Justin Justice and make the score 6-5. Cameron Maybin followed suit with an infield single that scored Cory Middleton from second base to tie the game at 6-6.
The Whitecaps used the longball in the seventh to score their final four runs of the game. Holliman blasted his second two run shot of the evening to give West Michigan an 8-6 lead. After Justice doubled, Rhymes stepped up and smacked a two run homer of his own to make it 10-6.
Lansing rallied in the ninth inning and cut the lead in half on a Jacob Butler two run dinger to make it 10-8. However the Lugnuts could not muster any more runs as Brian Bormaster popped out to end the contest.
Loren Fraser (1-0) got the win in relief by tossing 2 2/3 innings and holding the Lugnuts to just one hit.
Adrian Martin (3-1) suffered the loss after throwing 1 1/3 innings and allowing five runs on six hits.
Anthony Clagget nailed down his sixth save of the season.
Lansing (46-33, 6-6) and West Michigan (51-28, 10-2) will play the second game of the series on Tuesday evening. Casey McKenzie will (0-0, 0.00) will make his first start as a Lugnut. Lucas French (6-4, 3.25) will take the hill for the Whitecaps. LAFCU Fourth of July Fireworks will follow the game. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Midwest League Stories from July 4, 2006
- Rays defeat Rattlers 10-4 - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Kernels trample Bees, 13-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bees singing big inning blues - Burlington Bees
- Cougars light fireworks against Dayton - Kane County Cougars
- Devil Rays give the Rattlers heck - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Lugnuts lose third straight - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dayton bullpen gives up five in the seventh , lose 12-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Evans puts Hawks back in win column - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Homers lead way to sixth straight Whitecaps win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Swing go bombs away in fourth of July win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs drop LumberKings 6-2 - Peoria Chiefs
- Mendoza named MWL Pitcher of the Week - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Cunningham Returns from D.L. - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Whitecaps Surge Past Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
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