The Lansing Lugnuts impressed the Midwest League in the first half of the season, but still have their work cut out for them to keep postseason hopes alive.
After holding onto first place for most of the first half of the season, the Lugnuts (38-27) lost the top spot to the Fort Wayne Wizards (40-28) in the Eastern division, as well as losing an automatic playoff berth for finishing in first place at the season's turn.
The second half of the Midwest League season begins today at Oldsmobile Park with an eight-game homestand for the 'Nuts.
The first four are against the Kane County Cougars and the remaining games against the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
But before the Lugnuts look forward to the second half, six members of the Lansing roster were chosen to play in Tuesday's Midwest League All-Star Game in Comstock Park, Mich., home of Eastern division foe the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Shortstop Buck Coats (.307, 39 RBI) and designated hitter Donnie Hood (.327, 7 HR, 27 RBI), were selected by Midwest League managers as starters, and left fielder Keith Butler was chosen as a reserve outfielder.
Despite being picked to come in off the bench in Tuesday's All-Star Game, Butler put on the game's most commanding performance.
In the bottom of the ninth, Butler hit a one-out bases loaded single between the shortstop and third baseman to give the Eastern team a 5-4 victory.
Butler, named the Midwest League Star of Stars, went 3-for-3 in the contest.
Lugnuts closer Jason Wylie (0.57 ERA, 14 SV) and starters Jae Kuk Ryu (6-0, 1.83 ERA), Justin Jones (3-3, 2.55 ERA) and Andrew Sisco (2-2, 1.78 ERA) represented the Lansing pitching staff on the Eastern division All-Star squad.
The six featured players tied the record for most Lugnuts in the All-Star Game, set in the inaugural 1996 season.
It had Lugnuts Manager Julio Garcia enthused for his team's performance.
"I'm obviously happy for the guys that got picked," Garcia said. "Six guys off the club is great, and it's very good to know that the other managers in the league think highly of our players."
He said although he was satisfied with the roster, he wishes Anderson Tavarez (7-2, 2.90 ERA) would have been included.
"He pitched very well in the first half of the season and I was hoping he would make it, but unfortunately he didn't," Garcia said.
Even though the Lugnuts didn't hang onto the top spot in the East, the foundation is certainly there for a second-half surge
"We had only one bad streak where we lost four games in a row," Garcia said. "But we've done very well with pitching, which is pleasing to see.
"I hope we can come out and play as well as we did in the first half," Garcia added. "Because if we do that, the rest will take care of itself."
