Lugnuts close out Caps, finish road sched

EASTLAKE, Ohio - Carlos Ramirez recorded four hits including a solo homer and three other Lansing Lugnuts (27-40, 59-77) recorded three hits as they pulled out an 8-5 win over the Lake County Captains (31-36, 54-80) to take the series at Classic Park on Friday night.

In total, the Lugs slugged out 17 hits, getting four from Ramirez and three apiece from Dwight Smith, Jr., Santiago Nessy and Jason Leblebijian.

Knotted up, 4-4, entering the fifth inning, the Lugnuts broke the tie against Lake County starter Luis Morel (Loss, 5-6) with a three-run frame.

Nessy gave the Lugs a lead with an RBI single chopped over the drawn-in infield. Leblebijian then stretched the lead to 6-4 with an RBI single of his own, scoring Nessy. The three-run fifth was capped by a bases-loaded walk to Dalton Pompey, scoring Chris Hawkins.

Pompey contributed with three RBIs in the game - including sacrifice flies in the second and fourth innings - singled once and drew a pair of walks, extending his on-base streak to 17 games.

Ramirez singled in the second and fourth innings, scoring both times, and then slugged a solo homer in the top of the ninth inning to add insurance for the Lugs, stretching the lead to 8-5.

Morel lasted 4 2/3 in the outing, allowing seven runs - all earned - on 12 Lansing hits. The 20-year old walked three and struck out two in the loss.

Lansing starter Javier Avendano battled through four innings of work, allowing four runs - none earned - on just four Lake County hits. He struck out five and walked four in what is likely to be his last outing of the season.

Griffin Murphy (Win, 1-3) gave up a run in two innings of work to earn the win in relief of Avendano.

The Lugnuts now head back to Lansing for their final three games of the season. The series against the West Michigan Whitecaps opens up at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium with LAFCU postgame fireworks. Lansing will hand the ball to right-hander Eric Brown (2-3, 3.90) against West Michigan's Jake Thompson (3-3, 3.10).

Lansing Lugnuts tickets are available for purchase at lansinglugnuts.com and by calling 517-485-4500, and Lugnuts text alerts are easily accessed by texting LUGNUTS to 313131