Del Campo drives Lansing to victory
Lansing (6-15) got the lead on an RBI double by Yorermyn Chavez in the top of the fourth inning.
The Rattlers (9-12) wasted no time coming back. Juan Sanchez and Brett Lawrie reached to start the bottom of the fourth. Corey Kemp lined a double to the wall in center to drive in both runners. The Rattler designated hitter took third on the throw to the plate. Brock Kjeldgaard knocked in Kemp with a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead. But, the Rattler offense would collect three hits over the final five innings.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Trey Watten cruised through the first five innings, but he ran into trouble in the sixth. Leadoff batter Kenny Wilson walked on four pitches to start the inning. Tyler Pastornicky was next and he doubled to drive in Wilson. Watten for the first out but walked the next two batters to load the bases.
A single by Del Campo drove in the tying run and an error on the play allowed the go ahead run to score. Jon Talley was next and his two-run double made the score 6-3 Lansing.
The Lugnuts scored three more times in the top of the seventh inning. Mark Sobolewski singled in the first run. Chavez tripled to knock in Sobolewski. Then, Del Campo's RBI single chased Chavez home for a 9-3 Lansing lead.
Del Campo struck again in the top of the ninth inning. His two-run double pushed the Lugnuts to an 11-3 lead. And that was where the score stayed to the final out.
Henderson Alvarez was the beneficiary of the offense. The Lugnut starter pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits to pick up his second win of the season. Alvarez walked two and struck out four.
Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon. Erfrain Nieves (1-1, 4.96) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lansing has John Anderson (0-1, 1.96) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 1:05pm.