Saturday, April 21, 2012
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler
( 517) 485-4500, extension 233

Lugnuts rally to take rubber match, 9-6

BURLINGTON, IA – The Lansing Lugnuts (12-3) fell behind early before scoring eight unanswered runs in a 9-6 win against the Burlington Bees (7-8) in the rubber match of a three-game series at Community Field on Saturday night.

The Bees built a surprising 6-1 lead over four innings, thanks in large part to a pair of B.A. Vollmuth two-run homers off Lugnuts prospects Anthony DeSclafani and Noah Syndergaard.

But Lansing carved the deficit to three runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Jon Berti and Carlos Perez against reliever Seth Frankoff (Loss, 0-1) before completing the comeback in a four-run sixth inning.

Pierce Rankin mashed a two-run homer to highlight the rally, capped by a Perez tie-breaking sacrifice fly for a 7-6 lead.

The Lugnuts concluded the scoring in the seventh inning off Chaz Mye, with Chris Hawkins dashing home on a wild pitch and Jon Berti supplying his second RBI single to provide insurance.

Ajay Meyer (Save, 7) struck out a pair of Bees in a perfect ninth inning to earn his Midwest League-leading seventh save of the year.

DeSclafani allowed seven hits and three runs in three innings, before Syndergaard (Win, 2-0) allowed three runs of his own in a 2 2/3 inning performance.

The bottom four hitters in Lansing’s order scored a combined seven runs:  Kellen Sweeney was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored; Patterson went 2-for-4 as well with a pair of runs scored; and Hawkins capped a great series in a 3-for-5 day.

In addition to the Lugs’ Saturday night victory, 2010-11 Lugnut Drew Hutchison earned a win in his Major League debut.  Starting for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Kansas City Royals, Hutchison put forth a 5 1/3 inning, eight hit, five run, three walk and four strikeout performance in a 9-5 Jays triumph.

To begin a three-game series against the Peoria Chiefs, the Lugnuts send David Rollins (1-0, 1.35) against Peoria’s P.J. Francescon.  Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. ET at Peoria Chiefs Stadium.

The Lansing Lugnuts return home to Cooley Law School Stadium on Wednesday, April 25th, beginning a six-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m. “Ladies Night” against Kane County. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.

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