Lansing - The Lugnuts managed to salvage a 2-2 split in the series against Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Timber Rattlers 3-1 at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E. Michigan Ave.
Playing the defense they’ve been lacking the first three games of the series, Lansing managed to hold Wisconsin to just one run, committing no errors in the process.
The previous three games saw the Lugnuts commit a combined seven errors.
“It’s so important to be able to make the routine plays,” Lansing manager Julio Garcia said.
“A team like ours has to be able to make the routine plays and today we did, and I think we have a victory because of it.”
The Lugnuts scored first in Sunday’s game, with a run in the bottom of the second off the bat of second baseman Travis Welsch.
Welsch’s single drove in right fielder Buck Coats, just after Coats had connected for a double and advanced to third on a poor throw to first by Wisconsin right hander Juan Done.
Done gave up eight hits and three earned runs while walking 2 and hitting one batter in seven innings of work. His record drops to 9-11 with the loss.
In the fifth inning, Lansing scored again, this time on a J.J. Johnson double. The designated hitter’s shot scored Coats, increasing the Lugnuts’ lead to 2-0.
The Rattlers answered back in the sixth inning when shortstop Eriberto Menchaca scored on first baseman Sean Peless’ single.
Lansing then launched a counterattack in the bottom of the inning when third baseman Corey Slavik hit a single, scoring Welsch and making the score 3-1. It proved to be the final run of the game.
“We played better both offensively and defensively, and cut down on our errors.” Slavik said. “We just came out ready to win today.”
A new addition to the Lugnuts, right-handed hurler Jae Kuk Ryu collected his first win for Lansing. Ryu scattered seven hits and walked two while striking out six in five innings of work.
Garcia was impressed with Ryu’s first outing in a Lugnut uniform. The Korean born righty was pitching for the Single A Boise Hawks.
“He threw the ball well,” Garcia said. “He had good location early, he threw quite a few pitches and just ran out of gas toward the end.
“He did a great job of throwing to those guys.”
Lansing right hander Steve Ellis was credited with his 15th save of the season, and moves into third place on the Lugnut’s career save list.
On Thursday, Lansing stole a 1-0 win from Wisconsin in a pitcher’s duel.
Lugnut lefty Felix Sanchez improved his record to 6-4 with the victory and pitched a shutout game through seven innings. Rattler southpaw Ryan Ketchner picked up the loss and fell to 3-3.
Lansing second baseman Ryan Theriot scored the only run of the game, crossing home on a Coats single.
The Lugnuts didn’t fare so well in Friday nights’ game, a 5-3 loss at the hands of Wisconsin.
Rattlers right hander Emiliano Fruto improved his record to 5-5 while managing to hold Lansing to just one hit in eight innings on the mound.
Lugnut lefty Carmen Pignatiello (9-9) was handed the loss despite pitching a shutout game into the fourth. But in the fifth inning, three Lansing errors turned into three unearned runs for Wisconsin.
The Lugnuts rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the five-run deficit was too much to overcome.
In Saturday’s game against the Rattlers, Lansing left hander Sergio Mitre pitched eight innings and allowed no earned runs, but three costly Lugnut errors in the first inning caused the Rattlers to take an early 3-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
Mitre took the loss for Lansing and moves to 8-10. Wisconsin right hander Daniel Head was credited with the win for the Rattlers, and improves his record to 5-4.
The Lugnuts travel to Beloit, Wis., to take on the Snappers in a four-game series at Pohlman Field. The first game of the series begins today at 8 p.m.
“It’s a little bit tougher (to go on the road) toward the end of the season,” Garcia said. “The guys are getting a little bit tired over a four day trip.
“The good thing about (Sunday) is that we played a day game, so we get a little more time to rest.”
