LANSING - With the bases loaded and nobody out, Michigan Whitecaps pitcher Adenson Verastegui could not find the strike zone in the bottom of the eighth, and the Lugnuts capitalized for seven total runs in the inning.

Two straight walks from Verastegui gave the Lugnuts the, 7-5, edge, and forced Whitecaps manager Andrew Graham to make the pitching change to Drew Smith. Unlike Verastegui, Smith kept the ball in play, but the results were even deadlier for West Michigan.

Lugnuts designated hitter Max Pentecost shot a grounder to second baseman Brett PIrtle, and Pirtle's late decision to throw home, not only costs the Whitecaps another run, but leaves the bases jammed with nobody out.

The very next batter, Juan Kelly drives a single to right field for to put two more runs on the board for the Lugnuts.

Eight batters into the eighth, the Whitecaps finally convert an out, on a Justin Atkinson sacrifice fly to center.

Then, it was back to the first batter of the inning, Carl Wise. A wild pitch from Smith, sends Kelly home, and Wise caps the inning with a single to drive in the 12th run of the day for the Lugnuts.

The heart of the Lugnuts order did most of the damage in the, 12-9, victory over the Whitecaps. Lugnuts second baseman Jason La Prise, Pentecost and Kelly each with at least two hits and two runs batter in (La Prise with three).