Swinging in the Rain

LANSING, Mich. - The Lansing Lugnuts (18-9) rallied from two different deficits, scoring three runs in a rainy sixth inning to knock off the Kane County Cougars (11-12), 6-5, on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Lugnuts won two of three games in the series, the only regular season meetings between the two teams - and the first time in six years that the Nuts won the season series against the Cougars.
Audio: Kevin Vicuña's go-ahead two-run single

Eudy Ramos slugged a first-inning two-run homer and Jas Chisholm drilled a fifth-inning two-run shot, helping the Cougars build leads of 2-0 and then 5-2 against starter Donnie Sellers .

But the Nuts scored two runs in the second inning to take care of the first deficit, tying the score on a Samad Taylor RBI single, before coming back for good in the middle frames.

Kacy Clemens 's RBI double in the fifth inning brought in Kevin Vicuña , shaving the Kane County lead to 5-3.

In the sixth inning, two walks sandwiched around a fielding error loaded the bases with none out against Cougars reliever Breckin Williams (Loss, 1-2). Chavez Young followed with a sacrifice fly into the left field corner, bringing in the Lugnuts' fourth run - and rain. The umpiring crew of Steven Jaschinski and Kyle Nichol initially called for the tarp before deciding against it, bringing Kane County's defense back onto the field. Lansing took advantage, with Vicuña punching a two-run single into right field to give the Nuts their first lead of the game.

Once the sixth inning came to an end, with the rain intensifying, the tarp was again called for. The rain delay lasted 29 minutes before the game resumed.

A 6-5 lead proved plenty for Lugnuts reliever Maverik Buffo (Win, 3-1), who tossed the final four innings scorelessly, limiting the Cougars to a sixth-inning walk and a seventh-inning single.

The Lugnuts' offense was led by Taylor, who went 2-for-4, with a run scored, a double and two stolen bases; Norberto Obeso , who was 1-for-2 with a run, two walks and two steals; Vicuña, who was 2-for-5 with a run and the two crucial RBIs; and Kevin Smith , who was 1-for-3 with a run, a double and a walk, extending his on-base streak to 25 games.

The Lugnuts next welcome the Houston Astros-affiliated Quad Cities River Bandits to Cooley Law School Stadium, beginning a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Friday - a Grand Slam School Night with postgame LAFCU Fireworks! Right-hander Colton Laws (6.75 ERA) starts against Bandits right-hander Cristian Javier (1.69). To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
# # #