Lugnuts Thump Clinton

Lugnuts Thump Clinton
Lansing Takes Series; Goes For Sweep Tomorrow

LANSING - The Lansing Lugnuts plated six runs in the first inning and cruised to a 14-4 win over the Clinton LumberKings on Saturday night before 6,884 fans at Oldsmobile Park. The win is the fourth consecutive triumph for the Lugnuts. Lansing began the scoring barrage when Anthony Hatch blasted a two run homer to center field that made it a 2-0 game. After the next two batters reached base, Jacob Butler smacked a two-run double off of the left field wall that gave Lansing a 4-0 lead. Yuber Rodriguez then hit an RBI double to center field to score Butler to extend the lead to 5-0. Rodriguez would come home to score when Ian Gac misplayed a ball at first base to make it a 6-0 game. The Lugnuts led 6-3 in the fifth inning when Butler drilled a solo homer to left field to make it 7-3. After Clinton scored a run on a John Whittleman homer, Lansing put two more runs on the board in the sixth when Hatch ripped a two run double off of the first base bag to make the score 9-4. Lansing rolled from there and salted the game away in the seventh inning when Sean Shoffit narrowly missed a grand slam to left-center field. He settled for a three run triple that made it a 12-4 game. Jordan Timm (3-1) got the win in relief for Lansing, throwing four innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Juan Jimenez (2-4) suffered the loss for the LumberKings, surrendering nine runs on as many hits over five innings of work. Eight of the runs were earned. Lansing (46-31, 6-4) and Clinton (27-52, 4-6) will finish the series on Sunday evening. Chi-Hung Cheng (6-4, 3.82) will start for the Lugnuts, while Omar Poveda (1-9, 4.52) will take the hill for the LumberKings. LAFCU Fireworks will follow the game. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Courtesy of the Lugnuts