
Lugnuts' Noda Homers Twice in 10-3 Romp
August 1, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING, Mich. - Ryan Noda smashed a two-run homer in the first inning and a three-run homer to cap a seven-run fourth, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (20-19, 63-46) to a comfortable 10-3 win over the South Bend Cubs (17-22, 51-57) on a Winning Wednesday at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The streaking Lugnuts have won six of their last seven games and seven of their last nine following a nine-game losing skid.
Noda's power has been similarly streaky: The former Cincinnati Bearcat did not homer until May 30th, then blasted 11 home runs between May 30th and July 6th, and had not dialed long distance since - before taking Cubs All-Star Javier Assad (Loss, 5-6) deep to right-center with Samad Taylor aboard in the bottom of the first.
Three innings later, the Lugnuts broke the game wide open. Ryan Gold delivered an RBI single, Jesus Navarro lined a sacrifice fly to center field and Chavez Young drew a bases-loaded walk. Garrett Kelly relieved Assad and tossed a run-scoring wild pitch before serving up a pitch that Noda launched comfortably over the center-field.
The Cubs scored their only runs on sacrifice flies, with former MSU Spartan Brandon Hughes supplying the first in the third inning against Lugnuts starter Kyle Weatherly (Win, 3-1) and Jimmy Herron and Clayton Daniel lofting back-to-back sac flies in the eighth against Orlando Pascual.
Speedy Reggie Pruitt closed out the scoring in the bottom of the eighth, drawing his third walk of the game before coming home on the third passed ball of the night by South Bend catcher Cam Balego.
Weatherly pitched five innings in the victory, striking out three while allowing five hits, one walk and one run.
Matt Shannon blanked the Cubs in the sixth and seventh, striking out three.
After giving up two runs in the eighth, Pascual pitched a perfect ninth to put the game on ice.
Third baseman Brandon Grudzielanek went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored to increase his on-base streak to 19 games, second longest of the Lugnuts' season.
Left-hander Matt Gunter (4.99 ERA) gets the start against Cubs lefty Brendon Little (4.88) for the second game in the three-game series, a Labatt Thirsty Thursday - Young Professionals Night with $2 beer/pop/wine and half off craft beers. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
Midwest League Stories from August 1, 2018
- Rosa's Late Home Run Too Much - Great Lakes Loons
- Cougars Left Standing in Beloit - Kane County Cougars
- Rodriguez's Two-Homer Game Not Enough - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Lugnuts' Noda Homers Twice in 10-3 Romp - Lansing Lugnuts
- Chiefs Edge Kernels 4-3 in Series Opener - Peoria Chiefs
- Sierra Hits Two Home Runs as Bandits Beat Clinton - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cubs Drop 7th Straight in 10-3 Series Opener Loss to Lansing - South Bend Cubs
- Gridley, Snappers Walk-Off 3-2 in Series Opener - Beloit Sky Carp
- Dragons Win in 10 Innings in Road Trip Opener at Fort Wayne - Dayton Dragons
- Hot Rods Sink Captains in 13-4 Rout - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Helder homers in LumberKings 9-1 loss - Clinton LumberKings
- Rattlers & Bees Suspended in the Eighth with score tied 2-2 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Kolten Wong Rehab in Peoria Thursday - Peoria Chiefs
- TinCaps Game Notes: August 1 vs. Dayton (Game 107) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons GameDay Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- Bees Fall in Series Finale After Late Surge from Snappers - Burlington Bees
- Whitecaps and Tigers Extend Agreement Through 2022 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Ben Rodriguez rejoins Kernels from Fort Myers - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Jack Larsen promoted to Modesto - Clinton LumberKings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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