Jansen, Lugs score late to avoid sweep

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Danny Jansen's two-out RBI double broke a late tie, and the Lansing Lugnuts (12-6) avoided a road sweep and protected their division lead with a 6-2 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (10-8) on Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Lugs ended Bowling Green's six-game winning streak, building their lead to two games over the second place Hot Rods in the Midwest League's Eastern Division.

With the score tied at 2-2 entering the eighth, the first two Lugnuts batters flew out to left against reliever Edgar Gomez (Loss, 1-1), extending the Bowling Green bullpen's scoreless streak to 26 2/3 innings. But D.J. Davis brought a spark with a single to right, and Jansen followed by crushing a 2-2 pitch into the left field corner, bringing the speedy Davis around.

Lansing added two more insurance runs in the frame, with Gunnar Heidt shooting an RBI single to right to plate Jansen, and Gomez later balking in Heidt for a 5-2 Lugnuts lead.

A run-scoring single by Ryan McBroom in the ninth off reliever Mike Franco, McBroom's third hit and second RBI of the game, brought the final margin.

Lugs starter Starlyn Suriel worked the first four innings, allowing two runs, before yielding to Jose Fernandez for a scoreless fifth.

That was the start of a fine combined effort from the Lansing bullpen, with Shane Dawson (Win, 2-1) pitching the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and Phil Kish working a perfect ninth.

The Lansing offense amassed 14 hits, doubling up its opponent. In addition to McBroom's 3-for-5 showing, Anthony Alford, Richard Urena, Thon and Davis all enjoyed two-hit games.

After a league-wide day off on Monday, the Lugs open a three-game series at the Lake County Captains with a 6:30 p.m. contest on Tuesday. Lansing right-hander Chase Mallard (0-1, 5.65) starts opposite Lake County left-hander Anderson Polanco (0-2, 5.54).

The Lansing Lugnuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Friday, May 1st, opening a six-game homestand with a Freebie Friday: Kids Eat Free, featuring Myron Noodleman and postgame LAFCU Fireworks. For more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com.

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