Lugnuts Bow Out: Lansing Falls to West Michigan
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The Lansing Lugnuts’ season came to an end, losing the third and deciding game of the Midwest League semi-finals 14-5 to the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Alberta-native Shane Dawson was out to a great start to the game, pitching to only three batters in the first inning (thanks to an inning ending double play) and retiring the side in order in the second. With the Lugnuts up 1-0 going into the top of third, things began to unravel as the Whitecaps got a solo home run to start what became an offensive onslaught.

The Lugnuts extended their lead to 3-1 in the third inning thanks to a two-run home run by Chris Carlson but the Whitecaps tied the game with two runs in the fourth and then. The see-saw battle continued with the Lugnuts scoring another run in the bottom of the fourth but, in the top of the fifth, the Whitecaps took a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

After striking out the leadoff batter in the fifth, Dawson then gave up four consecutive singles followed by an RBI groundout before striking out Will Kengor to end the inning. The score was 6-4 after five innings and, while the Lugnuts would score another run in the bottom of the sixth, the Whitecaps wouldn’t look back, scoring another eight runs off the Lugnuts’ bullpen.

When it was all over, Dawson took the loss, going five innings and giving up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Colton Turner gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings while Jose Fernande allowed a run on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Chase Mallard pitched the ninth and surrendered another two runs.

Ryan McBroom added another two hits including a triple and an RBI while D.J. Davis was 2/4 with an RBI and a run. Justin Atkinson also had two hits including a double and an RBI while Jeff Carlson was 1/4 with the two-run home run.

Player of the Game: McBroom, Davis and Atkinson

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