Lugnuts split twinbill with Caps, 3-0 and 7-1

LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (27-18) split a Tuesday night doubleheader with the West Michigan Whitecaps (17-29), falling in the opener 3-0 before cruising in the nightcap to a 7-1 victory at Cooley Law School Stadium.
In Game 1, Michael Rockett's two-run double backed a masterful effort from 19-year-old West Michigan starter Giovanni Soto.
Soto (4-3) tossed a four-hit complete game shutout, striking out six, to outduel Lugnuts prospect Chad Jenkins. It was the second four-hit seven-inning shutout against the Lansing lineup in four days, matching the Saturday performance by Great Lakes' Will Savage.
Jenkins (3-3) struck out five while allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings in the loss.
In Game 2, Aaron Loup (3-0) limited the Whitecaps to just two hits and one run in five innings and the Lugnuts banged out three consecutive RBI doubles in a four-run first inning on their way to the easy win.
Every member of the Lansing starting lineup had a base hit by the third inning, and the Lugnuts finished the game with 12 base hits to increase their league-leading team average to .274. West Michigan spot-starter Victor Larez (3-6) bore the brunt of the assault, serving up six runs on nine hits in just 2 1/3 innings.
Eric Eiland added a two-run triple and Ryan Goins doubled twice to spearhead the winning cause.
Nestor Molina allowed a hit over two scoreless innings to close out the victory.
The Lugnuts and Whitecaps will play the third game of their four-game series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m., with Lansing starting right-hander Ryan Tepera (4-1, 3.55) against West Michigan right-hander Ramon Lebron (4-2, 3.63).