11,302 watch Lugs fall by four on 4th

LANSING, Mich. - A season high crowd of 11,302 at Cooley Law School Stadium saw Kody Clemens slug two home runs and the West Michigan Whitecaps (7-7, 43-41) defeat the Lansing Lugnuts (10-4, 53-31), 7-3, on Wednesday night on Independence Day.

It was the largest crowd to attend a game anywhere in the Midwest League this season.

Chavez Young singled, doubled and tripled in his first three at-bats for the Lugnuts, who scored two runs in the third inning against 20-year-old West Michigan right-hander Elvin Rodriguez for an early lead - only to see the Whitecaps answer back with a power display.

Clemens's first career home run brought the 'Caps within 2-1 in the fourth inning.

In the fifth, Rey Rivera hit a two-run shot and Clemens followed two batters later with another solo blast off starter Maverik Buffo (Loss, 9-3) to cap a four-run rally and give the Whitecaps a 5-2 lead.

Young tripled and scored on a Ryan Noda RBI grounder to pull the Lugnuts within two runs in the sixth.

But Brock Deatherage, who finished the game 5-for-5, rapped an RBI triple in a two-run seventh inning to enrich the 'Caps' lead and close out the scoring.

Rodriguez (Win, 6-4) pitched six innings, allowing six hits, three runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Clate Schmidt tossed the final three innings, giving up only one hit, for his fourth save.

The Lugnuts won the first game of the four-game home-and-home series but have dropped the last two, and now look for a victory in the finale on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. to gain a series split… on Rivalry Night at Cooley Law School Stadium! Right-hander Andrew Deramo (7.32 ERA) gets the start against West Michigan right-hander Jesus Rodriguez (4.96). To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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