Lansing - Two game-saving plays helped the Lansing Lugnuts remain undefeated in the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the Beloit Snappers in game two of the Midwest League Championship Series.
Lansing is now ahead in the series, 2-0, needing to win just one of the last three games to claim the title.
With two outs, two runners on and one run already scored in the top of the seventh, right fielder J.J. Johnson slammed into the right-field wall to make what turned out to be a game-saving catch. The two Snapper runners would have inevitably scored to tie the game at three without Johnson's effort, Lugnuts manager Julio Garcia said.
"The key to the game was Johnson's play in right center field," Garcia said. "If he doesn't make that play, we may be here talking about something else."
Johnson was replaced by outfielder Chris Walker in the eighth, after he hurt his shoulder on the play. Garcia said Johnson will ice the shoulder and try to finish the rest of the series.
Just one inning before, Lansing left fielder Keith Butler made another run-saving play. He caught a sharp liner to left field and then fired the ball home to get the Snappers lead-off hitter Kenard Bibbs. Lansing catcher Jose Reyes made a solid play at the plate by shielding the plate and applying a last-second tag.
"He was the fastest guy on their team, so I just had to gather myself and make a good throw," Butler said.
The Lugnuts also got a quality start from pitcher Andrew Sisco. The 6-foot-9 Sisco pitched an excellent game, overpowering hitters when he wanted and forcing them to look foolish with off-speed pitches.
"That was his second good outing in a row in the playoffs," Garcia said. He handled those left-handers in the middle of their lineup and that was the key tonight."
Sisco went 6 1/3 innings, giving up only one and six hits. The one unearned run scored on a passed ball by catcher Jose Reyes in the seventh inning.
Lansing first baseman Brian Dopirak got the team started with a two-out hit in the bottom of the fifth inning. The base hit drove home center fielder Felix Pie. The run didn't come easy, as the Lugnuts had been shut out for the first four innings.
The play before Dopirak's hit, left fielder Keith Butler was gunned out at the plate.
Lansing added insurance runs in the sixth inning. Reyes scored on an RBI single by Butler and Johnson crossed the plate on a fielder's choice by Coats.
In their run to capture their second Midwest League Championship - Lansing won its first and only back in 1997 - the Lugnuts have won all six playoff games in a different fashion: A blowout, a low-scoring game, an extra-inning game, a one-run game and a shutout, all have left the Lugnuts with a 2-0 lead and one game away from glory.
