Lansing Lugnuts at Battle Creek Yankees
April 10th, 2004
| Lansing |
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0 |
0 |
4 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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4 |
14 |
0 |
| Battle Creek |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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1 |
9 |
1 |
E-Harris, LOB LAN-7, BC-5, 2B-McQuade, Cabrera, Duncan, HR-Urick, HBP-Duncan, SB-Walker
WP-Smith, HBP-Duncan (Marmol)
T-2:23, A-830
Lansing State Journal
The Lugnuts scored four runs in the third inning Saturday to beat the Battle Creek Yankees , 4-1 and sweep the season opening series.
It is the first time the Lugnuts have swept a three game series in Battle Creek.
Alan Rick led off the third inning with a walk and went to third on a double by Tony McQuade. Rick scored when shortstop Carlos Rojas singled to center field.
Chris Walker then singled to right and Rojas Scored on an error by right fielder Estee Harris, making it 2-0. One out later, Kevin Collins delievered a two run single to right field. Walker and Robison Chirinos scored on the play.
The Yankees got their only run of the game in the eighth, when first baseman John Urick hit a home run off reliever Reid Wilett.
Lansing starter Carlos Marmol (1-0) pitched seven innings and gave up two hits and struck out eight batters. Reliever Adalberto Mendez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season. Right handed pitcher Josh Smith took the loss for the Yankees.
The Lugnuts are off today, then play at the Dayton Dragons 7pm on Monday. Right hander Billy Petrick is scheduled to start for the Lugnuts
Battle Creek Enquirer
by Howie Magner
The Battle Creek Yankees have their first off day of the 2004 season today. They probably need the break.
Still searching for their offensive groove, the Yankees didn't get a hit until the sixth inning of Saturday's 4-1 loss to Lansing and the Lugnuts left, C.O. Brown Stadium with a three game series sweep.
Now, after a winless series that saw just nine Battle Creek hits and two runs against 28 strikeouts, the Yanks can use their Easter respite to regroup.
"That's what it's for", Yankee manager Mitch Seoane said of the day off. "They're not working out, so take your mind off it and come back Monday and go to work."
Lansing starting pitcher Carlos Marmol (1-0) worked his way to a no hitter through five innings before Battle Creek's John Urick led off the sixth with a clean single to left field. Marmol, given the lead with Lansing's four run third inning, allowed just one more hit and struck out eight in seven innings of work.
Urick later provided Battle Creek's lone run of the game with an eighth inning solo homer over the right field wall.
"It's tough scoring only two runs in a series agsinst them," Urick said, "But I'm not worried about our team hitting, We've got a lot of good players and if we just keep working hard, we'll be all right."
Battle Creek's other two hits in the game, a seven inning double by third baseman Eric Duncan and an eighth inning two bagger by centerfielder Melky Cabrera, could be positive signs. It was the season's first hit for Duncan. Battle Creek's three hole hitter, while Cabrera's double put the Yankees in position to rally.
Jared Treadway had followed Urick's homer with a one out walk and Cabrera's double against Lansing's Reid Willett put runners at second and third. But Willett recovered from a 3-0 count to strike out Willie Vasquez and reliever Juan Mateo ended the threat by getting Duncan to fly out.
Adalberto Mendez pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the season.
Battle Creek's pitching left the Yankees within striking distance against Lansing (3-0), though starter Josh Smith's one trouble spot cost him four runs in the third.
Smith was perfect through the first two innings, but he gave up a pair of walks and four hits, including an RBI single by Carlos Rojas and a two out, two run single by Kevin Collins. Rojas almost scored two runs with his single, but Cabrera gunned down a runner at home for the first out of the inning.
Smith (0-1) lasted five innings, leaving with a line that included four strikeouts, two walks and six hits. Relievers Heath Castle, Steven Wiseman and Paul Thorp gave up just one hit the rest of the way.
"Pitching's kept us in the games," Seoane said, "So we've had the chance to win, we just haven't done it yet."
The Yankees hope to change that when they get back in action on Monday against Fort Wayne, which is also 0-3.
"I'm usually a pretty positive person," said Urick. "You just come to the ballpark with the attitude that it's a new day every day and you know you're gonna win. just because you get beat bad the night before doesn't mean you can't come out and do the same thing to the other team."