Benches Clear as Lugnuts Lose to Whitecaps
June 28, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
Comstock Park, Mich. - A hit batsmen in the bottom of the sixth inning sparked a benches clearing brawl Thursday night, as the Lansing Lugnuts dropped a 4-2 decision to the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Lansing trailed the game 4-2 in the sixth inning when Lugnuts' reliever Edward Rodriguez hit Louis Ott in the back with a pitch in what was apparently retaliation for Matt Lane getting hit in the top of the inning with a Casey Fien fastball. Ott then tossed his helmet aside and charged the mound. Punches were exchanged as both benches emptied onto the field and a brawl broke out between the two teams with several other players from each squad entering the fight.
Only two players were ejected from the game after order was restored. Both Rodriguez and Ott were ejected for their parts in the melee.
Lansing fell behind in the second inning when West Michigan's Jeramy Laster doubled to right-center field and scored on a Louis Ott single to make it a 1-0 game.
The Lugnuts fought back in the fourth to take the lead when Matt Lane crushed a two-run homer to right field to put Lansing ahead 2-1. It was Lane's next time up in the sixth that he was hit with a pitch.
However the lead did not last long as the Whitecaps tied the game in the bottom half in the inning on an RBI groundout by Brennan Boesch.
The Whitecaps took the lead in the following frame when Scott Sizemore drilled a two-run homer to left field to make it a 4-2 game.
Fien (2-0) got the win in relief, as he threw five innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Only one run was earned.
Ray Gonzalez (3-2) took the loss for the Lugnuts, allowing four runs on six hits over five innings of work.
Brett Jensen picked up his 15th save of the season.
Lansing (38-39, 3-5) will continue the road trip on Friday night as they head to Midland, Michigan to take on the Great Lakes Loons. Zach Dials (3-4, 4.58) will get the start for the Lugnuts, while Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 1.72) will hurl for the Loons. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
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