Lansing starts series with a shutout of the Rattlers
LANSING, MI - Chase Mallard struck out nine over seven scoreless innings to lead the Lansing Lugnuts to a 5-0 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Tuesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. Both teams had six hits in the game, but the Rattlers were shutout of the second time in the last three games.
Lansing (62-46 overall, 20-18 second half) took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wisconsin starting pitcher Eric Hanhold faced the minimum through the first three innings and got the first out of the fourth. He walked the next two batters, but catcher Greg McCall caught a runner trying to steal third base for the second out. Hanhold walked the next batter. Then, DJ Davis doubled to right-center to drive in both runners for a 2-0 lead.
The Lugnuts added an unearned run off reliever Scott Lieser in the bottom of the fifth. Michael De La Cruz doubled with one out and scored when Alex Maldonado's grounder was misplayed.
Wisconsin (36-71, 13-24) managed four hits and no walks off Mallard, but never got a runner past second base against the right-hander.
The Lugnuts scored their final two runs of the game in very different ways against reliever Devin Williams. In the seventh, Dawel Lugo started the frame with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Josh Almonte sent a grounder to the right side to move Lugo to third base. De La Cruz knocked in Lugo with a sacrifice fly to right. In the eighth, Chris Carlson hit a leadoff homer to right-center.
Dusty Isaacs allowed two hits in the eighth inning, but stranded both runners. He would retire the side in order in the ninth to complete the shutout.
The loss was the fifth in a row for the Rattlers, who have been outscored 28-3 during the streak. No Timber Rattlers player made it to third base in Tuesday's game.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. Jon Perrin (1-2, 4.79) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lansing has named Clinton Hollon as their starter. Hollon will be making his Midwest League debut on Wednesday. Game time is 6:05pm CDT. The action may be heard on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 5:45pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.
HOME RUN:
LAN:
Chris Carlson (6th, 0 on in 8th inning off Devin Williams, 0 out)
WP: Chase Mallard (5-3)
LP: Eric Hanhold (0-2)
TIME: 2:15
ATTN: 3,827