Noda stays hot, but Captains win in 10th

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

June 12, 2018

EASTLAKE, OH - Red hot Ryan Noda homered and drove in three runs, but Todd Isaacs's walkoff single in the tenth inning lifted the Lake County Captains (27-38) to a 6-5 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (40-25) in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night at Classic Park.The Lugnuts' record

EASTLAKE, OH - Red hot Ryan Noda homered and drove in three runs, but Todd Isaacs's walkoff single in the tenth inning lifted the Lake County Captains (27-38) to a 6-5 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (40-25) in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night at Classic Park.

The Lugnuts' record fell to 5-6 during their season long 13-game, 14-day road trip.

Lansing fell behind early, 3-0, with starter Turner Larkins departing due to injury precaution in the third inning. But Noda and Samad Taylor homered off Lake County starter Francisco Perez in the fourth and Noda knocked a two-run single in a three-run fifth inning to give the Lugnuts a 5-4 lead.

Noda extended his hitting streak to 11 games, going 2-for-5 to give him 15 hits (including six homers) in his last 41 at-bats, raising his batting average from .195 to .242.

The Lugnuts maintained that 5-4 lead until the eighth inning, when Josh Rolette tied the score off Brody Rodning with an RBI single.

Rodning (Loss, 1-2) pitched a perfect ninth, forcing extra innings, and then struck out both Ulysses Cantu and Rolette with runners at first and second in the tenth inning before manager Cesar Martin called in Claudio Custodio to face Isaacs.

Isaacs sent a line drive to deep center field just beyond the range of Reggie Pruitt , bringing in Oscar Gonzalez for the Lugnuts' third walk-off loss of the year.

Cameron Mingo (Win, 2-1) pitched the final four innings in relief for Lake County, holding the Lugnuts scoreless on two hits and one walk while striking out five.

In the loss, Brandon Grudzielanek and Kevin Vicuña each went 2-for-4 for the Lugnuts.

The second game of the three-game series will be held at 12:00 noon at Classic Park, featuring Nuts left-hander Matt Gunter (3.75 ERA) against Captains right-hander Jean Carlos Mejía (1.38).

The Lugnuts have just three home games remaining in the first half: Family Faith Night with LAFCU Fireworks on June 15th, Star Wars Night with LAFCU Fireworks on June 16th, and a Father's Day Delta Dental Kids Day with a special Jersey Giveaway on June 17th! To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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