ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Lansing Lugnuts beat the Timber Rattlers 6-2. Darin Mastroianni hit a three run homer in the bottom of the first inning. The Rattlers got two runs in the top of the second with a two-run homer by Joe Dunigan. But, the Lugnuts scored twice in the bottom of the second. Kyle Ginley pitched six innings for the Lugnuts and earned the win. Mastroianni drove in four runs and Kevin Ahrens had three hits (two triples), drove in a run, and scored two for Lansing.
*FIVE-0: Ginley is the Midwest League leader in wins with five after the victory last night. He has not lost in six starts this year.
DUNIGAN GOES DEEP: The Rattler outfielder hit his first home run of the season last night. His dinger went to left field in the top of the second inning and pulled the Rattlers to within 3-2.
NEW GUY: Chris Robinson made the start as the first baseman for the Rattlers last night after joining the team from extended spring training. He went 1-for-4 in the game.
OUTFIELD ROBBERY: Calvin Beamon sent a line drive to left-center field in the top of the third inning. What might have been a sure RBI double turned into an out after Mastroianni dove with full extension to snag the liner and record the out.
#THE MAESTRO: Mastroianni, the third batter in the Lansing batting order, followed singles by Justin Jackson and Kevin Ahrens with his second homer of the season for the 3-0 lead.
AHRENS RUNS THE BASES: Ahrens had two triples, a single, and three runs scored last night.
EARLY MISSTEPS: Last night was the fifth time in the last 13 games the Rattlers have given up at least one run within the first three batters opponents have sent to the plate in the first inning.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: The Rattler left ten runners on base last night. Wisconsin went down in order only two times and had the lead-off batter on base in three innings. The Rattler runs scored after two outs and none on in the second. Ron Garth singled and Dunigan followed with the home run.
**TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT: Donnie Hume is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers tonight. Phillippe Aumont is scheduled to come on in relief in this game. Aumont is 1-1 and has not allowed an earned run in four appearances (one start) this season. He has struck out 13 and walked four in 11-2/3 innings pitched.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 15-11 and is in second place in the Eastern Division. They are a half game behind first place West Michigan. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 7-2 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
##COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .234 as a team and have scored 70 runs (3.0/game). Wisconsin has hit four homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 4.05. The Lugnuts are hitting .286 as a team and have scored 132 runs (5.1/game). Lansing has hit 13 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.41.
LANSING STARTING PITCHER: Nate Starner was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent out of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. He spent all of 2007 with the Lugnuts. He was 12-9 in 28 starts with a 4.43ERA. He struck out 143 batters and walked 40 in 140-1/3 innings. He faced the Timber Rattlers twice last season and went 2-0. On May 18 in Grand Chute, he pitched five scoreless innings and did not give up a hit. He struck out eight and walked two in that win. On July 12 at Oldsmobile Park, Starner allowed one run on eight hits with nine strikeouts over six innings. In his last start this season, Starner got a no decision at Clinton on April 27. He pitched seven shutout innings and gave up four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
*-The one you think
**-Not the one you think
#-Could not find video of The Maestro from Seinfeld
##-These links are to Midwest League Team Hitting and Team Pitching stats
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