Lugnuts finish season with 11-0 rout of Captains

EASTLAKE, OH – The Lansing Lugnuts (34-36; 70-69) finished the 2010 season with an 11-0 romp over the Lake County Captains (33-37; 77-62), led by four hits apiece from Jake Marisnick and Brad Glenn and a seven-inning, two-hit, shutout performance from starting pitcher Casey Lawrence.

Lake County starter Trey Haley (5-11) lasted only two-thirds of an inning, reached for three runs on two hits, two walks, a wild pitch, and a hit batsman.

The Lugnuts scored four more runs in the fourth inning against reliever Mike Rayl before putting the game away on Randy Schwartz's first home run of the season in the sixth inning.

Lawrence (1-1) cruised from there, allowing only a Chase Burnette infield single and one of two Adam Abraham doubles.

Ryan Tepera pitched the eighth inning and Scott Gracey and Matt Wright combined for the ninth, with Wright striking out Ben Carlson and Dwight Childs to end the season.

The Lugnuts offense combined for 16 base hits in the easy win, half of those provided by McElroy and Marisnick. Schwartz and Oliver Dominguez added a pair of hits each, and leadoff Dominguez scored three runs.

Lansing also stole five bases in the game, two by Marisnick and one each from McElroy, Michael Crouse, and Jon Del Campo.

Here is what Jake had to say on Twitter after the game:

Last game of my first season went good.. Flying home tomorrow.. Had a lot of fun this season and learned a lot

Our boy Jesse caught up with Lugnuts manager Sal Fasano a few days ago. Some of the highlights include:

• Sal mentioning the organization having All Stars at the catcher position in every level
• Doc having the best sinker he had every seen
• A shout out to the Italian fanbase in Toronto
• Him owning the White Sox during his playing days
• Glowing words for both SS Ryan Goins and C A.J. Jimenez

Sal does say "whether I'm here or not" which leads me to believe he may be making a move this offseason. He may get the opportunity to manage at a higher level next year and it wouldn't be a complete shocker if he ended up in the Majors, perhaps as a pitching coach.

Jesse also caught up with Sal before the season started. They discuss how he ended up getting the job as the manager of the Lugnuts and what it was like to be in spring training as a coach and not a player. Gotta love the singing of God Bless America in the background.

Is this the face of your Toronto Blue Jays next manager? There was this story not too far back.....

Tepera tames Dragons for Nuts’ 8th straight win

DAYTON, Ohio – Brad McElroy homered and Ryan Tepera pitched into the ninth inning as the Lansing Lugnuts (25-14) won their eighth straight game, 3-2 over the Dayton Dragons (18-22) on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field.
After the Lugnuts took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Tepera (4-1) allowed RBI triples in the second and third innings to tie the score before clamping down on the Dragons lineup. The Texan right-hander set down 15 batters in a row between the fourth and ninth innings, exiting after Henry Rodriguez's one-out single in the ninth.
Steve Turnbull relieved Tepera and recorded the game's final outs for his tenth save in as many chances.
McElroy's home run provided the difference, a line shot to right field against Dayton starter Justin Walker (1-5) with one out in the fourth inning.
Lansing shortstop Ryan Goins extended his hitting streak to 10 games and his on-base streak to 16 games with a bunt single in the first inning.
The Lugnuts next return home for an eight-game, seven-day homestand at Cooley Law School Stadium. First, the Great Lakes Loons come to town for a four-game set, with the opener scheduled for Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Nuts right-hander Ryan Shopshire (2-2, 5.98) will oppose Loons right-hander Will Savage (2-1, 2.53) in the starting matchup.