Gutierrez whiffs nine in 7-0 loss

LANSING, Mich. - Osman Gutierrez continued his summer turnaround, striking out nine batters in the Lansing Lugnuts' (20-29, 57-58) 7-0 loss to the Lake County Captains (22-27, 48-69) on Sunday afternoon at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Captains won three of four games in the series.

Lake County scored two runs in the first innings, one in the third and one in the fourth against the 22-year-old Gutierrez (Loss, 4-10), though only one of their eight hits off the native Nicaraguan went for extra bases - a Jorma Rodriguez solo home run. Gutierrez pitched six innings in all, his third consecutive start working at least six innings after not making it past the fifth in his first 14 starts of the year.

Three Captains pitchers shut down a Lugnuts offense without outfielder Edward Olivares , promoted to A-Advanced Dunedin earlier in the day. Zach Plesac allowed only one single in the first four innings, Justin Garza (Win, 3-6) gave up four hits and two walks in the next four innings, and Henry Martinez pitched around a two-out single in the ninth.

Javier Hernandez went 3-for-4 with three singles to lead the Lugnuts in defeat. Yeltsin Gudino added a single and a double in four at-bats.

Lake County added three runs in the seventh against Andrew Deramo before Jared Carkuff pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out three while allowing only a walk.

The Lugnuts head to Midland, Mich., on Monday, opening a four-game series with the Great Lakes Loons with a 7:05 p.m. contest at Dow Diamond. Right-hander Mike Ellenbest (6-6, 6.7) gets the start.

The next Nuts home game is at 7:05 p.m. against the South Bend Cubs on Friday, August 18th, a Family Faith Night with postgame LAFCU Fireworks. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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