Jenkins, Lugnuts power past Silver Hawks, 4-3

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Chad Jenkins tossed six shutout innings and the Lansing Lugnuts (29-21) received three solo home runs in a 4-3 victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks (23-28) on Sunday afternoon at Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium.
The victory ended the Lugnuts' three-game losing streak while simultaneously halting the Silver Hawks' three-game winning streak.
Jenkins (4-3), the Blue Jays' 2009 1st round pick, worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning and dominated the Silver Hawks lineup afterward. The 22-year-old right-hander scattered seven singles while striking out five.
Lansing built an early 2-0 lead against South Bend starter Brad Gemberling (0-3) on an Oliver Dominguez bases-loaded plunking in the second inning and an A.J. Jimenez home run in the fourth inning.
After South Bend halved the deficit on Errol Hollinger's RBI single in the eighth, Brad Glenn and Oliver Dominguez each homered for the Lugnuts in the ninth inning. Those insurance runs would prove crucial.
In the bottom of the ninth, David Nick launched a two-out, two-run homer off of Lugnuts closer Steve Turnbull. Chris Owings flied out to right field on the very next pitch, ending the game and giving Turnbull his 12th save in as many opportunities.
Lugnuts right fielder Brad McElroy was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning to reach base in his 24th consecutive game.
The Nuts and Hawks play the finale of their four-game series at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, with right-hander Ryan Tepera (5-1, 3.68) going for Lansing against South Bend left-hander Mike Belfiore (1-4, 2.78).
Tickets to all Lugnuts home games are available for purchase online at www.lansinglugnuts.com, at the stadium box office, and by calling 517-485-4500.

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Lansing Lugnuts Baseball
Cooley Law School Stadium
505 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912
Phone: 517.485.4500; Fax: 517.485.4518
info@lansinglugnuts.com

Bonus Coverage!

Here is a conversation between Jesse and I after the post went up:

Golden Arm: Jenkins coming around? His line looks solid!

Jesse:  He looked absolutely excellent, and it was noticeable immediately.  Very, very sharp.  It’s my hope that he goes up to Dunedin during the All-Star Break in June.

Golden Arm: Is there a normal time frame on this type of promotion?  Or is it case by case?

Jesse: Entirely case by case.  Rule of thumb, from my experience, is that you go 1) by month (like with Strasburg being in April for Double-A, May for Triple-A, etc.), or 2) by mid-season.  That’s why I’m thinking he moves up at mid-season.  This being his first pro season, they’re going to tread carefully though.  The biggest key for him right now is getting consistency out of his two-seamer and improving his change-up.