Caps sink Lugnuts in ninth

LANSING - The West Michigan Whitecaps beat the Lansing Lugnuts in their final at-bat for the third time this year, this time by a 2-

1 margin at Fifth Third Ballpark Wednesday night.

The Whitecaps grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Joe Tucker drew a two-out walk from Lansing hurler Marc Rzepczynski and

scored on Chris Carlson's double into left-center field.

The score would stay that way until the sixth inning. That's when the Lugnuts would score the first run this season to score against

Mauricio Robles at home. Raul Barron had a bunt single and moved to third on Jonathan Jaspe's single. Jaspe was then picked off

at first, but Barron took off for home on the play and scored just behind the tag of catcher Angel Flores, tying the game at 1-1.

The run broke a string of 45 1/3 innings of shutout baseball for Robles at home this year.

It would stay 1-1 until the ninth inning where the Whitecaps would ultimately decide the game. They loaded the bases off a

Lansing's Tim Collins with a single and two walks, bringing up Audy Ciriaco. He then laced a single into left field that brought Jordan

Newton home for the game-winning run.

Brett Jacobsen (1-2) got the win for the Whitecaps after retiring all eight batters that he faced.

Collins (4-2) took the loss by giving up the decisive run.

Lansing (68-54, 29-23) and West Michigan (61-58, 24-27) will continue the series Thursday night. First pitch at Fifth Third Ballpark is

scheduled for 7:00 p.m.