Olivares's homer helps Nuts avoid sweep

LANSING, Mich. - Edward Olivares broke a sixth-inning tie with his team-leading 15th home run of the year, and the Lansing Lugnuts (7-15, 44-44) defeated the Beloit Snappers (11-11, 43-48), 3-2, on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium, avoiding a three-game sweep.

The Lugnuts' win also ended a four-game losing streak.

Mattingly Romanin 's RBI double and Javier Hernandez 's RBI single had given the Nuts a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, only to see Miguel Mercedes tie the game in the top of the sixth with a solo home run.

In the bottom of the sixth, however, Olivares (2-for-3, HBP) laced an offering from Beloit starter Matt Milburn(Loss, 5-7) over the wall in left field, putting the Nuts in front for good.

The blow made a victor out of reliever Griffin Glaude (Win, 4-2), who worked 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and allowing Mercedes's roundtripper.

Glaude was followed to the mound by Jared Carkuff (Save, 1) who stranded two inherited runners in the seventh on his way to 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Lansing starting pitcher Yennsy Diaz struck out four Snappers in five innings, allowing three hits, three walks and one run.

Saturday begins the second series of the Lugnuts' six-game homestand, with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers arriving in town. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. on Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame Night featuring postgame LAFCU Fireworks, with Lansing right-hander Osman Gutierrez (2-6, 9.98) taking on Wisconsin southpaw Drake Owenby (0-0, 3.86). Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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