Lansing Casts A Spell Over The Wizards

The great thing about the Midwest League season is that it's split into two halves. After the first 70 games and the all star festivities have concluded, players return to their teams refreshed and find that their records return to 0-0.

It is a do over of sorts for teams that had disappointing first halves and a chance for teams that earned playoff spots to tinker with line ups and make sure that players get enough at bats and rest to prepare for the post season.

The Lugnuts must earn a playoff spot in the second half of the season and took their second game in a row of the new season by defeating the Fort Wayne Wizards by a score of 6-4 on Friday night.

The win improves the Luggies record to 2-0 for the second half and 37-34 overall.

Lansing starter Kyle Ginley can also look at the second half as a fresh start for him as he went winless until his last start of the first half. However Friday night Ginley was able to turn his rough start into his second quality start of the season tossing five innings of one run, four hit baseball.

“I’m at my best when I’m not trying to over throw and strike everybody out,” stated the hard throwing right hander. “I’m focusing on throwing the ball down in the zone and making quality pitches”.

Making quality pitches he did as his first seven pitches were strikes that appeared to have the Padre’s prospects mystified as Ginley struck out the first two hitters looking before getting the man in the third hole to pop out to left. Still, his efforts would not be enough for him to earn his second win of the season as he would leave with the score tied at 1-1.

It appeared for a time that the bullpen may blow a masterful performance by Ginley as both Benjamin Harrison and Ted Serro would come on in relief in the sixth. Harrison was uncharacteristically hit around as he lasted only 2/3 of an inning before giving way to Serro who promptly allowed a high towering fly ball that carried over the wall in left field wall for a two run homer off the bat of Sam Carter.

The Lugnuts fough back in the late innings however as they would mount their comeback with a two run homer of their own against Lansing all star infielder Sean Shoffit.

“I think I gained something from my previous at bats and I stuck with it and I finally got a pitch out over the plate that I could drive,” stated Shoffit. Shoffit finished the night going 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Lansing would add a single run in the seventh and two in the eighth before Lansing closer Paul Phillips would make his final appearance in front of the Oldsmobile Park crowd to pick up his 11th save of the season.

Hey now, you’re an All Star.

Lansing sent five representatives to the MWL all star game and four of them saw playing time and made an impact in the their East Division Squad’s victory over the west by the score of 8-2. Sean Shoffit went 1 for 2 while team mate Matt Liuzza would go 2 for 2. First round draft pick Travis Snider would play the entire game and score twice while walking three times. Paul Phillips threw the final inning of the frame retiring the west hitters 1-2-3 and striking out one. The final Lasing representative, Adrian Martin, was unable to participate due to injury.

“My fellow team mates and I were able to put on a pretty good showing for the Lansing Lugnuts,” stated Shoffit. “The game was awesome. We got a chance to play with a lot of great players and we ended up on top in the end”.