LANSING, Mich. - Ryan Noda homered for the second straight day, a three-run blast, and the Lansing Lugnuts (21-19, 64-46) stayed hot with an 8-6 victory over the South Bend Cubs (17-23, 51-58) on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.The win is the Lugnuts' seventh in their last eight games,
LANSING, Mich. - Ryan Noda homered for the second straight day, a three-run blast, and the Lansing Lugnuts (21-19, 64-46) stayed hot with an 8-6 victory over the South Bend Cubs (17-23, 51-58) on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The win is the Lugnuts' seventh in their last eight games, including four straight meetings with South Bend.
After belting two home runs and driving in five runs in the Wednesday night opener, Noda flexed his muscles again, crushing a 3-1 pitch from Brendon Little (Loss, 4-9) into the Chevrolet Terrace to cap a five-run second inning.
Little, the Cubs' first-round draft choice in 2017, allowed seven runs (two earned) in four innings, giving up five hits, walking three and striking out three.
Lansing starter Matt Gunter (Win, 3-4) pitched five innings, allowing only a pair of two-run homers, one by Austin Upshaw in the second inning, the other by Austin Filiere in the fourth inning.
The Cubs pulled with a run against reliever Emerson Jimenez at 7-6 in the sixth inning, scoring runs on a Clayton Daniel RBI grounder and a balk. Jimenez recovered to blank South Bend in the seventh and two outs into the eighth.
Brayden Bouchey (Save, 2) recorded the final four outs, stranding runners at second and third in the eighth inning before striking out the side in the ninth.
Brandon Grudzielanek extended his on-base streak to 20 games, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Samad Taylor and Chavez Young each collected two hits, with Young stealing two bases and Taylor scoring two runs.
The Lugnuts go for the three-game home sweep on Friday night at 7:05 p.m., a Family Faith Night featuring postgame LAFCU Fireworks. Left-hander Jordan Barrett (5.40 ERA) starts opposite Cubs right-hander Ryan Williams (5.23). To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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