Early offense lifts Whitecaps past Nuts, 6-4

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

April 10, 2019

LANSING, Mich. - A five-run second inning proved enough to power the West Michigan Whitecaps (4-3) past the Lansing Lugnuts (3-4), 6-4, on Wednesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.Three Lugnuts pitchers struck out 15 Whitecaps - the second straight day that 15 Whitecaps had struck out against Lansing pitching. It

LANSING, Mich. - A five-run second inning proved enough to power the West Michigan Whitecaps (4-3) past the Lansing Lugnuts (3-4), 6-4, on Wednesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Three Lugnuts pitchers struck out 15 Whitecaps - the second straight day that 15 Whitecaps had struck out against Lansing pitching. It began with six K's for starter Joey Murray (Loss, 1-1), but Murray pitched only two innings, allowing an Ulrich Bojarski home run, a Jeremiah Burks two-run double and a Nick Ames two-run double in the second inning.

Jackson Rees gave Lansing a lift with five impressive innings of relief, striking out eight while allowing only a fourth-inning unearned run. Marcus Reyes then whiffed one in blanking the 'Caps in the eighth and the ninth.

Down 6-0 entering the home fourth, the Lugnuts' offense chipped away: an Alejandro Kirk sacrifice fly in the fourth; a Hagen Danner solo home run leading off the seventh, his team-leading third homer of the year; a Kirk RBI double in the eighth; and a D.J. Neal RBI single in the ninth brought the Nuts within two.

Reggie Pruitt followed Neal's single with a walk, putting the potential tying runs aboard, but Drew Crosby (Save, 1) retired Otto Lopez on a comebacker to end the game.

West Michigan starter Adam Wolf (Win, 1-1) struck out six batters in six innings, allowing three hits and one run, to earn the victory.

The game featured the oddity of each team having a batter called out for interfering with the opposition catcher on throws down to second, the last of which led to home plate umpire Taylor Payne ejecting West Michigan manager Lance Parrish. It also featured two Lugnuts batters called out for dropping down bunts and then hitting the ball in fair territory as they dashed out of the batter's box.

The finale of the four-game series will be held on Thursday at 1:05 p.m., the Lugnuts' first ever matinee Labatt Blue Thirsty Thursday featuring $3 wine and $1, $2 and $3 draft beer specials. Right-hander Josh Hiatt (4.91 ERA) starts against West Michigan right-hander Wilkel Hernandez (2.25).

To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life at Cooley Law School Stadium, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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