Lugnuts' game-tying rally in 9th erased by power failure in 7-2 loss

BURLINGTON, IA - Through eight innings, the Burlington Bees led the Lansing Lugnuts 7-2, three outs away from victory on Friday night at Community Field.

Then the game changed dramatically. The Lugnuts scored five runs in the ninth inning - a Chavez Young RBI single, Brandon Grudzielanek two-run single, run-scoring wild pitch and run-scoring passed ball - to tie the Bees at 7-7, forcing a bottom of the ninth.

It was never played.

A power surge caused a lights failure on the right side of Community Field and the Lugnuts defense was pulled off the field. Following a delay, the game was called by the umpiring crew. The official scorer determined, upon conferring with the rules book, Minor League Baseball's stats crew in New York and Elias Sports Bureau, that the game reverted back to the final full inning played.

Thus, the Burlington Bees (5-16, 35-55) defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (13-9, 56-36), 7-2, avoiding a three-game sweep.

A Grudzielanek two-run single in the first inning off spot-starter Anfernee Benitez provided the only Lugnuts runs.

Burlington catcher Alexis Olmeda tied the score at 2-2 with a two-run double in the second inning against Lansing starter Maximo Castillo (Loss, 7-4), adding a three-run homer in a four-run fourth inning.

Franklin Torres closed the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Castillo gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings, striking out four. Orlando Pascual followed with three innings of relief, giving up two hits and one run with two strikeouts.

Bees reliever Zack Kelly (Win, 1-0) tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks and notching five strikeouts.

Now the Nuts move onward to face the Clinton LumberKings in the second leg of their Iowa road trip, opening a three-game series at Ashford University Field at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with right-hander Graham Spraker (3.06 ERA) on the mound.

The Lugnuts next return to Cooley Law School Stadium on a Winning Wednesday, July 18th, opening a six-game homestand with the Peoria Chiefs and the Cedar Rapids Kernels. To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
# # #