Jordy Templet pulls a BJ Ryan
Relief effort lifts Lugs
Catcher Curtis Thigpen's two-run homer in the fifth inning could easily be considered the game-changing moment in Lansing's 7-2 victory over Dayton on Sunday.
His fifth homer of the season gave Lansing a 3-2 lead and ignited a struggling offense on its way to eight hits over the final four innings as the Lugnuts (33-29) totaled 12 overall in their win over the Dragons (27-35) at Oldsmobile Park.
Yet in Thigpen's eyes - the ones behind home plate - the true turning point was an inning earlier when Lansing reliever Jordy Templet was forced into action with two runners on and nobody out. Starter A.J. Wideman had to leave the game after getting hit in the right leg by a line drive.
"I was just trying to minimize the damage," said Templet, who walked his first batter on four pitches to load the bases.
By minimize, Templet must have meant eliminate, as he responded by striking out the side to keep the Lugnuts' deficit at just one run, 2-1.
"I think that was the turning moment in the game," Thigpen said. "Anytime a pitcher comes in and does something like that, it gets everybody up. Whether it's a home run or anything else, I think striking out the side with bases loaded is one of the most momentum-shifting parts of the game."
Templet (3-2) went on to not allow a hit over his three innings of work to get the victory.
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Re: Jordy Templet pulls a BJ Ryan
