JD Davis, Suriel star as Lugs gain series split
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Starlyn Suriel provided 6 1/3 innings of stellar long relief and J.D. Davis took care of everything else, helping the Lansing Lugnuts (19-15) top the South Bend Cubs (17-17), 8-6, on Thursday afternoon at Four Winds Field.
The Lugnuts won the final two games in the four-game series, gaining a split, and moved within one game of first-place Bowling Green in the Midwest League Eastern Division.
The game offered the feel of a slugfest right from the first inning. Ryan McBroom socked a two-run double in a three-run Lugnuts rally, only to see the Cubs send nine batters to the plate and score four runs against Conner Greene in the home half.
Two crucial events changed matters in the second inning: Suriel relieved Green, and Davis took charge. After Tim Locastro tied the score at 4-4 with an RBI double, the right fielder lifted a two-run homer off Zach Hedges (L, 2-2) to give the Lugnuts the lead for good.
By game's end, Davis was 3-for-4 with a walk, four runs scored, three stolen bases, and two tremendous diving catches.
To get into the late innings, though, the Lugnuts leaned on the right arm of Suriel (W, 3-1), who fired goose egg after goose egg from the second through the seventh. He departed in favor of Jose Fernandez after allowing a one-out single in the eighth, finishing with three hits and one run permitted.
After the Lugnuts tallied an insurance run in the top of the ninth for an 8-5 lead - provided by a J.D. Davis single, a steal of second, a steal of third, and a D.J. Davis RBI single - the Cubs made things interesting in their last licks.
Facing closer Phil Kish, Gleyber Torres's one-out RBI single closed the Lugs' lead to three runs. Jason Vosler moved Torres to second with a single, bringing up slugger Cael Brockmeyer, boasting three hits already in the game, and now representing the potential game-tying run.
Brockmeyer flared a Kish offering to shallow right-center, looking certain to fall for another RBI single. But there was Davis, flinging himself horizontally into the air for a run-saving grab.
A routine flyout later, and Kish had wrapped up his fifth save in as many chances.
Lugnuts second baseman Locastro went 1-for-5, scoring two runs, to extend his on-base streak to 16 games. First baseman McBroom went 3-for-4, raising his batting average to .318.
The Lugnuts open the final leg in their 10-game, 11-day road trip with a 7:00 p.m. Friday opener at West Michigan. Lansing right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (0-0, 3.63) takes on Whitecaps left-hander Trent Szkutnik (2-0, 3.54).
The next Lugs home game at Cooley Law School Stadium is at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, May 18th, starting an eight-game homestand that stretches through May 25th.. For more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com.
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