Lansing - The Lugnuts completed a three-game sweep of Burlington on Monday, downing the Bees 2-0 in the first and only game of a doubleheader on Monday.
Lugnut righty Anderson Tavarez (4-0) tossed the first complete-game shutout of his career in the win. Tavarez, seemingly unhindered by Monday's unfavorable weather, scattered just four hits while striking out seven.
The nightcap of Monday's scheduled doubleheader was canceled due to rain.
"It was very windy out there, but that was my best game ever," he said. "I felt really good today. I want to keep going."
Lansing (21-12) got on the board early, scoring both runs in the first inning. After striking out the leadoff batter, Bee hurler Jonah Bayliss (2-4) faced third baseman Robinson Chirinos, who blasted a solo shot over the right field fence for the only run the Lugnuts would need.
Buck Coats followed up with a single, marking the 28th consecutive game where he reached base safely. He advanced to third on back-to-back singles before crossing home on a RBI single off the bat of right fielder J.J. Johnson.
Bayliss gave up six hits and six walks before he was relieved in the bottom third of the fifth inning.
Tavarez's career day kept the Burlington bats from generating any kind of offense. Just one Bee made it to second base as Tavarez's masterful pitching provided no room for a comeback.
"I don't like throwing in the rain, so I threw pretty fast," Tavarez said with a grin.
Tavarez is one of few players still smiling about the weather, as the Lugnuts have had 11 games canceled already this season because of field and weather conditions.
Lugnut manager Julio Garcia voiced his frustration.
"We've had fewer at-bats and hits than most teams," he said. "It's tough, but there's really nothing you can do about it."
With the win, Lansing remains at the top of the Midwest League's Eastern Division. Burlington (11-26) sits in the cellar of the Western Division, 14.5 games off of the first-place Kane County Cougars.
Garcia credits his team's early accomplishments to good coach-player relations and a stingy pitching staff, which holds a 2.14 ERA. The lowest in baseball - at any level.
"We have to be happy with our record, and at the same time I think we've shown improvement," Garcia said. "Both (pitching coach Mike Anderson and hitting coach Mike Micucci) and the players work really well together, we haven't been this high this quick since I've been here."
Lansing began an eight-game road swing on Monday, rolling into Wisconsin for a four-game series with the Timber Rattlers (17-18). Wednesday's game is slated for 1:05 p.m.
