Lansing - West Michigan Whitecaps' pitcher Joel Zumaya nearly kept the Lugnuts at bay single-handedly Tuesday night at Oldsmobile Park - even though he's barely old enough to vote.
The righthanded, 18-year-old Zumaya struck out 11 Lugnut batters en route to West Michigan's 3-1 win. Zumaya improved his record to 7-5, and the Lugnuts dropped to 9-11 on the second half of the season.
Lansing manager Julio Garcia liked Zumaya's stuff, even from his seat in the dugout.
"He throws pretty good," Garcia said. "He kept our hitters off balance."
Zumaya went six innings while giving up only one run on five hits. With his 11 strikeouts Zumaya re-claimed the Midwest League lead in strikeouts with 117.
The most impressive part of Zumaya's Tuesday outing was his over-powering 96 mph fastball. He struck out the side in both the second and the fourth innings.
"The first half of the season I was trying to strike everyone out," Zumaya said. "But now I am focused on going out there and pitching, instead of just throwing the ball."
All told, four West Michigan pitchers struck out 14 Lugnut batters. Each 'Nut with a plate appearance struck out at least once.
Lansing starter Andy Sisco pitched five innings, giving up one run on two hits in a no decision effort. It was Sisco's longest performance since coming back from a broken hand suffered at the beginning of May.
Despite a fruitless Lansing scoring threat in the second inning, West Michigan got on the scoreboard first. Left fielder Jason Knoedler scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Juan Gonzalez in the third inning.
Lansing scored their lone run of the game in the fifth inning. Designated hitter Jose Reyes singled to center to open the inning and was doubled home two batters later by right fielder J.J. Johnson.
West Michigan answered when Gonzalez doubled to open the sixth inning third baseman Scott Moore walked. Center fielder Victor Mendez drove both in with his second triple of the game.
Even in the 3-1 defeat, Garcia was not upset with his team or their play. It was the first time in more than three games that Lansing did not commit a fielding error. Lansing has 111 errors on the season.
"Everybody played well today and our pitchers did their job," he said. "We just came out on the losing end of a good ballgame."
The loss by the Lugnuts snapped a three game winning streak and moved their record to 3-2 for the current seven game home stand.
The Lugnuts are in action again Wednesday at 7:05 at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E. Michigan Ave. against the Whitecaps.
