Lugnuts rout Whitecaps before crowd of 11,449

(Tyler Marcotte)

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

July 4, 2017

LANSING, Mich. - We hold these truths to be self-evident: That Bo Bichette  and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. ignited a sellout crowd with back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning, that Osman Gutierrez  turned in one of his best starts of the year, that Edward Olivares  slammed his team-leading 13th home run, and that the Lansing Lugnuts

LANSING, Mich. - We hold these truths to be self-evident: That Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. ignited a sellout crowd with back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning, that Osman Gutierrez turned in one of his best starts of the year, that Edward Olivares slammed his team-leading 13th home run, and that the Lansing Lugnuts (5-8, 41-37) enjoyed a dominating 10-4 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps (9-4, 54-26) on Independence Day at Cooley Law School Stadium.

A throng of 11,449 attended the romp, finished off to a soundtrack of LAFCU Fireworks.

Bichette and Guerrero started the Lugnuts on their pursuit toward happiness and triumph, leading a three-run first inning with consecutive drives to the left-center wall.

Gutierrez (Win, 2-6) took over from there, touching 98 miles-per-hour while striking out six Whitecaps in five innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Dan Lietz and Connor Eller pitched two innings apiece to close out the visitors.

Following another three-run rally in the third and solo tallies in the sixth and seventh innings, Olivares capped the in-game celebration with a two-run homer to left field off Whitecaps prospect Zac Houston in the eighth.

Whitecaps starter Eudis Idrogo(Loss, 3-4) had his night end after only 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and three walks.

The Lugnuts' offensive effort featured signature accomplishments from Rodrigo Orozco , who went 4-for-4 with a walk, and leadoff hitter Joshua Palacios , who applied his John Hancock to a third consecutive game with at least three hits.

One final note: Lugnuts left fielder Nick Sinay was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two steals, and his league-leading 20th hit-by-pitch of the year.

Lansing right-hander Andy Ravel (7.21) starts the second game of the three-game series, a Winning Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. West Michigan counters with right-hander Alfred Gutierrez (3.56). 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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