Lane's Homer Lifts Lugnuts

LANSING– The Lansing Lugnuts fell behind to Cedar Rapids early but rallied to beat the Kernels 6-4 before 6,108 fans at Oldsmobile Park Thursday night. The Lugnuts were able to earn a split of the series with the win.

The Kernels jumped on Lansing out of the gates by scoring three times before an out was recorded. With two men on, Wilberto Ortiz delivered an RBI single into left field to plate Ryan Mount to push across the game's first run. Hank Conger follwed that with a two-run single to make it 3-0 in favor of Cedar Rapids.

Lansing answered quickly when it received an RBI double by Travis Snider in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Lugnuts then tied the game in the second when Chris Emanuele and Snider each smacked consecutive run scoring singles.

The score would stay at 3-3 until the fifth when Mount drove a Ben Harrison offering to right-center field between Lansing outfielders Yuber Rodriguez and Chris Emanuele. The two men collided as the ball went to the wall, allowing Mount to come all the way home for an inside-the-park homer to put the Kernels ahead 4-3.

The Lugnuts were able to erase the lead in the sixth though, as Matt Lane crushed a two-run home run to right field to put the home squad up for the first time at 5-4. Another run crossed later in the inning when Scott Campbell drove home Jonathan Diaz with a one out single.

Reddout (5-1) got the win in relief by throwing three innings and allowing one run on two hits.

David Herndon (8-8) took the loss for the Kernels, as he allowed all six Lugut runs over 5 1/3 inings of work.

Edward Rodriguez recorded his fifth save of the year.

Lansing (58-50, 23-26) will continue its homestand on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. when they welcome the Peoria Chiefs to Oldsmobile Park. Nate Starner (9-8, 4.58) will make the start for the Lugnuts, while Jose Pina (5-8, 4.25) will get the call for the Chiefs. LAFCU Fireworks will follow the game.