Beloit Snappers at Lansing Lugnuts April 21st, 2004
Beloit
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1
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5
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Lansing
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11
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E-Rodriguez, Heether, LOB BEL-3, LAN-8, 2B-Heether, Fitzgerald, 3B-Palmisano, HR-Rottino (Marmol/5th/solo), Dopirak (Villanueva/1st/2 run), SACB-Corporan, Francisco, SACF-Rottino, SB-Walker 3, Fitzgerald, CS-Trofholz WP-Villanueva, Mendez, PB-Palmisano, BB-Heether, Anderson, SO-Acosta, Rodriguez, Rottino T-2:06, A-1,524 Beloit Daily News The Beloit Snappers spotted the Lansing Lugnuts a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never recovered Wednesday night, losing 5-3 at Oldsmobile Park. The Snappers were held to five hits and committed a pair of errors as the fell to 5-8 in the Midwest League. The Lugnuts, the 2003 MWL champions, improved to 8-5. Beloit starter Carlos Villanueva (0-3) ran into trouble in the first inning when Chris Walker reached on a bunt single and stole second. Robinson Chirinos reached on an error by second baseman Guilder Rodriguez allowing Walker to score. Brian Dopirak then belted a two run home run. An out later Ryan Fitzgerald doubled, stole third and scored on a single by Jake Fox. Beloit scored a run off Carlos Marmol (2-0) in the second when Lou Palmisano tripled and came home on Vinny Rottino's sacrifice fly.
The Snappers cut it to 4-2 in the fifth inning on Rottino's leadoff homer, his first of the season. Adam Heether then walked and the Snappers bunted him into scoring position. Marmol struck out Gilberto Acosta and Rodriguez to end the threat. Lansing chased Villanueva with a run in the sixth to make it 5-2. Beloit tried to rally in the ninth against reliever Adalberto Mendez. Drew Anderson walked and moved to third on two groundouts. He scored on a wild pitch, but Rottino fanned to end the game. Lansing State Journal by Mark Feather At 5 foot 8, Lansing outfielder Chris Walker grew up a fan of the smaller, speedy professioanl player. One of those childhood favorites coached him on Wednesday as the Lugnuts (8-5) took a 5-3 victory over Beloit (5-8). Vince Coleman, a 16 year major leaguer and first year minor league instructor in the Chicago Cubs orginization, is currently working with the Lugnuts. "Vince has made such a difference in my baserunning abilities," Walker said. "Before I started working with him. I was too hesitant on wheather I was going or not, Now, I just know." Walker put that improvement on display Wednesday as he tied the single game Lugnuts record for stolen bases with three against the Snappers, Pat Hallmark stole three for Lansing in 1997 and Rick Pitts did it in 1998. "Chris has no fear", said Coleman, who led the National League in stolen bases for six straight years (1985-1990) and is sixth all time with 752. "And once you have no fear, it really allows you to go straightforward in your development and be successful." Walker guarenteed he'd break the record by the end of the season. "Hopefully, I can get it tomorrow." he said, "I might have gotten it today, if I could have gotten on again." Walker's three steals came in the first two innings. "Chris got into the lineup and now I can't take him out." Lansing manager Julio Garcia said. "He really changes the dynamic of the game with some things we can do with him in there." Lansing slugger Brian Dopirak homered in his first at bat for the second consecutive day. He said there is no real secret to his early inning success. "To tell the truth, all I do is look for a good pitch and try to drive it." Dopirak said. The two run shot to left field gave Lansing a 3-0 lead, which jumped to 4-0 after a Ryan Fitzgerald double and RBI single from Jake Fox. The four run lead was all Lansing starter Carlos Marmol (2-0) needed in an eight inning effort. He allowed five hits, two runs and struck out seven before reaching his pitch count. Lansing closer Adalberto Mendez picked up his fifth save of the season.