LANSING, Mich. - Ryan Noda 's first home run of the year was a tape-measure, two-run, go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (34-19) past the Lake County Captains (21-32), 3-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Cooley Law School Stadium.The Lugnuts improved to 4-2
LANSING, Mich. - Ryan Noda 's first home run of the year was a tape-measure, two-run, go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (34-19) past the Lake County Captains (21-32), 3-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Lugnuts improved to 4-2 on their seven-game homestand, setting up the potential for a three-game sweep of Lake County on Thursday.
Lugnuts starter Maximo Castillo was dominant, setting a career high with nine strikeouts in five innings, allowing only a second-inning Jonathan Laureano RBI single.
But Captains starter Zack Draper was even better, limiting the Lugnuts to a mere second-inning walk and a fifth-inning single - both by Brock Lundquist - while facing the minimum in six scoreless innings.
Trailing 2-0 after a Nolan Jones home run in the sixth, the Lugnuts rallied against reliever Jonathan Teaney (Loss, 0-3). With two outs in the seventh, Chavez Young doubled to left-center. Brandon Grudzielanek followed with a hopper that under the glove of shortstop Ernie Clement, bringing in the Nuts' first run.
In the eighth, Yeltsin Gudino led off with a single off Teaney. The next batter was Noda, who sent a majestic blast well over 400 feet into the Chevrolet Terrace in right-center. It was his first home run since August 24, 2017, in the Appalachian League.
Donnie Sellers (Win, 3-1) pitched three innings, allowing one run and striking out two, to earn the victory.
Matt Shannon worked around two singles and a walk in the ninth for his second save.
Speaking of singles - Thursday is Swipe Right Night at Cooley Law School Stadium on a Labatt Thirsty Thursday featuring $2 beer, $2 wine, $2 fountain drinks and half off craft beer. Right-hander Colton Laws (6.55) gets the start at 7:05 p.m. against Lake County right-hander Gregori Vasquez (3.88). To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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