EASTLAKE, OH - Li-Jen Chu swatted two of the Lake County Captains' (18-32) four home runs, including a three-run shot that catalyzed a six-run fifth-inning rally, lifting the Captains to a 9-4 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (27-22) in the opener of a three-game series at Classic Park.In defeat, reigning MWL
EASTLAKE, OH - Li-Jen Chu swatted two of the Lake County Captains' (18-32) four home runs, including a three-run shot that catalyzed a six-run fifth-inning rally, lifting the Captains to a 9-4 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (27-22) in the opener of a three-game series at Classic Park.
In defeat, reigning MWL Player of the Week Bo Bichette homered and drew two walks for the Lugnuts.
A Christian Williams RBI single gave the Lugnuts a 2-1 lead in the third inning, but the Captains tied the score in the fourth on an RBI triple by Jose Vicente.
In the fifth, Lansing starter Denis Diaz (Loss, 0-2) gave up a walk and a single before yielding to Geno Encina . Chu greeted the new reliever with a roundtripper to left, giving the Caps a 5-2 lead. Gavin Collins followed with a triple and Emmanuel Tapia knocked a two-run homer for a 7-2 lead. Five batters later, Trenton Brooks capped the uprising with an RBI single.
Chu gave the Classic Park crowd an encore in the sixth inning, driving an Encina pitch out to right-center for a 9-2 lead.
J.B. Woodman closed out the scoring with a two-run homer to right for Lansing, the right fielder's fourth home run of the season.
Lake County starter Juan Hillman(Win, 2-3) worked 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters while allowing four hits, two walks and two runs.
Christian Williams was the only Lugnuts with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch, an RBI and a run scored.
Nick Sinay was also hit by a pitch, his league-leading 14th plunking of the year in just his 20th game.
The second game of the three-game series will be played at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, featuring Lugnuts right-hander Mike Ellenbest (1-4, 8.29) against Captains left-hander Tanner Tully (2-3, 2.02).
The Lansing Lugnuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium for a three-game homestand spanning June 6-8. Tickets may be purchased at the stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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