Little looms large as Cubs blank Lugs

LANSING, Mich. - 2017 Chicago Cubs first-rounder Brendon Little struck out nine batters in six innings, and the South Bend Cubs (10-8, 44-43) defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (11-7, 54-34), 10-0, on Sunday afternoon at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Freddy Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two singles, supplying half of the Lugnuts' base hits on a day that won convincingly by the visitors.

Little (Win, 3-6) followed up seven scoreless innings against the Lugnuts on May 23rd with his highest career strikeout output as a professional, limiting the Lugs to three hits and a walk.

All-Star reliever Brendan King worked the final three innings for his second save, notching three strikeouts.

Lugnuts All-Star Maximo Castillo (Loss, 7-3) gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits and a walk in four innings, allowing a solo home run to Chris Singleton.

The Cubs added two runs in the fifth inning against Orlando Pascual , a solo home run by Miguel Amaya in the seventh and three more runs in the eighth against Dalton Rodriguez , and a ninth-inning tally off Brayden Bouchey to close out the scoring.

With a win in the Monday night series finale, the Lugnuts would gain a split in the four-game series. It's a Dog Days of Summer with gates opening at 6:00 p.m. and a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, welcoming dogs to Cooley Law School Stadium. To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
 
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