Lugnuts stun TinCaps in 9th, 9-8

Edward Olivares took over the Midwest League runs lead and belted the Lugnuts' second grand slam of the year. (Tyler Marcotte)

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

July 8, 2017

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Lansing Lugnuts (6-11, 43-40) rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning, capturing a 9-8 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-7, 36-51) on Friday night at Parkview Field.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Lansing Lugnuts (6-11, 43-40) rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning, capturing a 9-8 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-7, 36-51) on Friday night at Parkview Field.

Trailing 8-6, Nick Sinay led off the ninth with a walk against reliever Blake Rogers(Loss, 2-3), and Rodrigo Orozco singled to left on an 0-2 pitch. After a Mattingly Romanin sacrifice, Rogers hit Edward Olivares with a pitch to load the bases. Nash Knight 's grounder to shortstop, seemingly tailor-made for a double play, was fumbled by Fernando Tatis, Jr.. Tatis recovered to throw out Knight while Sinay scored, bringing the Lugnuts within a run at 8-7.

Designated hitter Ridge Smith followed by chopping a 2-2 pitch up the middle of the infield. Second baseman Nate Easley knocked it down with a dive, but could do nothing more. Both Orozco and Olivares scored, pushing the Lugs into the lead.

The Lugnuts improved to 3-32 when trailing after eight innings in 2017.

Reliever Juliandry Higuera (Win, 2-0) was the deserving victor, tossing the final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run, and striking out five.

Olivares was the Lugnuts' offensive standout, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a double and a third-inning grand slam. He now leads the Midwest League with 61 runs scored, surpassing former teammate Bo Bichette .

In the losing cause, Fort Wayne's Brad Zunica, G.K. Young and Rod Boykin each hit solo home runs. Young doubled, homered and tripled in his first three at-bats, but grounded out and struck out in his final two, missing out on the cycle.

The third game of the four-game series will take place Sunday at 3:05 p.m., with Lugnuts right-hander Osman Gutierrez (2-6, 11.10) taking on TinCaps right-hander Mason Thompson (1-3, 6.00).

The Nuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Wednesday, July 12th, opening a six-game homestand with a Winning Wednesday against the Beloit Snappers. 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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