Ramirez stuns Lugnuts with 9th-inning blast

LANSING, Mich. – Pedro Ramirez slugged a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, and the South Bend Cubs (10-16) topped the Lansing Lugnuts (11-15), 7-6, on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™.

Lansing had built leads of 4-1 and 6-4, only to see the Cubs rally for their fourth win in five games.

The eighth inning was wild enough, featuring consecutive plays that saw each team’s manager get thrown out of the game. With the Lugnuts leading 4-3 and Cubs at first and second with one out, Nuts left-hander James González appeared to have cleanly picked off Yohendrick Piñango from second base. But bases umpire Evan Anderson ruled Piñango safe, thumbing out Lansing manager Craig Conklin for disputing the ruling. Parker Chavers followed with a single to left field and Piñango attempted to score the game-tying run, only to be ruled out at the plate on a relay from third baseman Dereck Salom. Cubs manager Nick Lovullo was kicked out in the resulting argument with home plate umpire Travis Roberson.
Dylan Hall replaced González and gave up a true game-tying single to Felix Stevens before retiring the side.

The Lugnuts quickly retook a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth thanks to RBI singles from Euribiel Ángeles and Salom.

But in the ninth inning, Hall walked Brian Kalmer, allowed a single to Ed Howard, and coaxed a fielder’s choice from Brett Bateman to put runners at the corners with one out for Ramirez. The South Bend second baseman, who had knocked his first home run of the season previously in the series, lined a 2-0 delivery over the top of the right field ribbon board and a leaping Brayan Buelvas, catapulting the Cubs into the lead.

The Nuts threatened against Grayson Moore in the bottom of the ninth inning, putting the tying and winning runs aboard on a Henry Bolte single and Will Simpson walk. But Buelvas hit into a fielder’s choice and Moore struck out Cameron Masterman swinging and Colby Halter looking to end the game.

In a no-decision, Lansing starter Mitch Myers tossed five innings, striking out three while allowing only one run – a first-inning steal of home by Bateman on the tail end of a double steal.

Ángeles, who plated three runs with a two-run double and an RBI single, joined Halter and Simpson in collected a pair of hits in the losing cause.

The Sunday finale falls on Cinco de Mayo, making for a special Lansing Locos Capital City Market Kids Day. Lansing right-hander Luis Carrasco duels with South Bend right-hander Tyler Schlaffer at 1:05 p.m., with gates opening at 12 noon. Tickets are available for purchase at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

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