Published April 25, 2004
Lugnuts surrender lead, miss chance to close in on top spot
Balk in 10th leaves Lansing with loss

Lansing State Journal

SOUTH BEND - The Lansing Lugnuts failed to gain a game on the Eastern Division-leading South Bend Silverhawks by giving up a ninth-inning lead on Saturday.

The Lugnuts (9-7) lost 2-1 on a balk in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Lansing's Weston O'Brien was guilty of the balk, called before his first pitch to South Bend shortstop Tila Reynolds. Silverhawks catcher Miguel Montero scored from third base.

The loss spoiled a brilliant performance from Lugnuts starter Sean Marshall, who pitched a three-hit shutout through eight innings.

Lansing first baseman Brian Dopirak provided Marshall with Lansing's only run of the ballgame, solo home run in the third. The shot to right centerfield was Dopirak's fourth of the season.

But that run wasn't enough to help Adalberto Mendez pick up his seventh save.

Mendez started the ninth by getting Reynolds to fly out. Then he walked Augie Murillo, who was replaced by pinch runner Alberto Gonzalez. Gonzalez later scored on a two-out double by Silverhawks first baseman Edgar Barela.

The Sliverhawks upped their record to 13-3.