FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In a 43-minute rally, the Lansing Lugnuts (5-3) tied a franchise record with an 11-run seventh inning, overwhelming the Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-7), 13-4, on Thursday night at Parkview Field.The Lugnuts took three out of four games in the road series.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In a 43-minute rally, the Lansing Lugnuts (5-3) tied a franchise record with an 11-run seventh inning, overwhelming the Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-7), 13-4, on Thursday night at Parkview Field.
The Lugnuts took three out of four games in the road series.
A first-inning Luis Campusano three-run homer had given the TinCaps a quick 3-0 lead, but the Lugnuts scraped back within 3-2 on solo tallies in the fifth and sixth innings.
And then the deluge of offense began. The first 12 Lugnuts to bat in the inning all reached base, six against relief pitcher Henry Henry (Loss, 0-1) and six against Spencer Kulman. The relievers added to their own troubles by walking seven batters, with Henry committing a pair of balks. Chavez Young struck the first key blow, driving an RBI double to right field to tie the game. Kevin Vicuña followed with a two-run triple, and the Lugnuts were off to the races. TinCaps second baseman Reinaldo Ilarraza committed a two-run throwing error, Cullen Large delivered a bullet of an RBI single, and Young came through again, driving a three-run triple to put the game on ice.
It was the third time in franchise history that the Lugnuts scored 11 runs in an inning, most recently on June 15, 2008. The Nuts also drew 13 walks - three apiece by Kacy Clemens , Ryan Noda and Large, one shy of tying another team record.
Large reached base in all five plate appearances, thanks to a single, double and the three free passes.
Lansing starter Zach Logue tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out three in a no-decision. Brody Rodning (Win, 1-0) recorded the final out of the sixth to make himself the pitcher of record, firing 1 1/3 perfect frames in all.
Kyle Weatherly faced the minimum in the eighth and Andy Ravel allowed a run on two hits in the ninth, closing the game out.
Fort Wayne used two position players to relieve the burden on its pitching staff, with catcher Jalen Washington pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, and first baseman Carlos Belen handling a scoreless ninth.
The Lansing Lugnuts next open a seven-day, six-game homestand against West Michigan and Lake County, raising the curtain on Friday the 13th at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Graham Spraker starts the opener against Whitecaps left-hander Eudis Idrogo. To purchase tickets and live the LugLife, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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