West Michigan WhiteCaps at Lansing Lugnuts
April 7th, 2002
| West Michigan |
|
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
11 |
3 |
| Lansing |
|
|
10 |
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
X |
|
|
12 |
17 |
0 |
E-Francia, Gonzalez, Tejeda, LOB WM-12, LAN-8, 2B-Durham, Tejeda, Yount, Kelly, Johnson, Bouras, Arteaga, Coats, 3B-Mallory, HR-Bouras (Lewis), SB-Yount
WP-Lewis, Ramirez 2, PB-Anderson, SO-Gonzalez, Lugo 2, Durham, Knoedler 2, Tejeda 2, Yount 2, Kolodzek, Anderson, Cedeno, Johnson 2, Slavik, McKnight, BB-Gonzalez, Mattle, Knoedler 2, Theriot, Bouras, Slavik
T-2:59, A-7,013
Lansing State Journal
by Jeff Karzen
In a first inning that lasted nearly 50 minutes the Lansing Lugnuts started off Opening Day with a performance that won't easily by repeated.
When the marathon inning was over, Lanisng had scored 10 runs on eight hits and two West Michigan errors.
It was more than enought as the Lugnuts (3-1) cruised to a 12-3 victory over the White Caps (2-2) before an announved crown of 7,013 at Oldsmobile Park.
The 3-1 start is Lansing's best in the franchise's seven year history.
"You just don't know what to say during something like that," Lansing manager Julio Garcia said, "I was thinking it was going to be a 21-20 game. The balls seemd to have eyes."
Lansing first baseman Brad Bouras led the attack with a 3 for 4 day, including five RBI (four in the first inning)
Buras hit a three run homer in the first and later in the inning knocked home J.J. Johnson with a double.
Almost as impressive as Lansing's early hitting was it's combined pitching effort.
Four hurlers combined to yield just three earned runs and strike out 12.
"There's been too many games like that where teams get a big lead and then lose focus." Garcia said, "But we didn't do that".
West Michigan actually got all three of it's runs in the first inning off Lansing starter Felix Sanchez.
Sanchez lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and three runs.
After Sanchez was chased, reliever Nick Martin (1-0), B.J. Benik and Emmanuel Ramirez combined to give up just four hits without allowing a run.
"The pitching was real good today," Lansing centerfielder Mike Mallory said, "Sanchez started it off and then everybody just followed."
Mallory, who entered the game 1 for 12 on the season, was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a triple.
Much of the game was played through a steady and sometimes heavy, rainfall in the chilly air. But the poor conditions didn't affect the Lugnuts.
"I knew we'd be better than we were last year at this point." Garcia said, "Last year, we'd either have one or the other (hitting or pitching). It's nice to see a combination of both".
West Michigan starter Jeremy Lewis (0-1) got only one batter out, while surrendering nine runs (five earned) on six hits.
"It was nice to get off to that good start and we were happy to realiate," Bouras said in reference to West Michigan's three first inning runs. "One thing I've learned is that you can never relax in a minor league game. If you have a big inning, the next thing you know the other team is having a big inning right back."
Lansing pounded out 17 hits off four WhiteCaps pitchers. Every Lansing starter had a hit and all but two players had multi hit games.