Grudzielanek lifts Lugnuts in 9th, 6-4

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Brandon Grudzielanek crushed a two-run go-ahead double in a three-run ninth-inning rally, and the Lansing Lugnuts (30-17) clinched a split of a four-game series with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the South Bend Cubs (19-26) on Thursday afternoon at Four Winds Field.
AUDIO: Grudzielanek's go-ahead double

It was the Nuts' first victory of the season when trailing going into the ninth inning.

The Lugnuts brought a 3-1 lead to the late innings behind starter Maverik Buffo , who worked six innings, allowed one run, and set a career high with nine strikeouts.

But the Cubs took a 4-3 lead in the eighth with a three-run rally against relievers Claudio Custodio and Andrew Deramo , tying the score on an Austin Filiere broken-bat two-run single, and then taking the lead on a Miguel Amaya single and a throwing error by center fielder Brandon Polizzi .

In the top of the ninth, Cubs reliever Manuel Rodriguez (Blown Save, 3; Loss, 1-2) loaded the bases with one out on three walks, the last intentional, to bring up Grudzielanek. The Lugnuts' first baseman worked the count full before blasting a fly ball over the head of center fielder Chris Singleton, scoring Kevin Smith and pinch-runner Chavez Young . Three batters later, Kevin Vicuña drew a bases-loaded walk to add an insurance run.

Deramo (Win, 1-0), who had struck out the final two batters in the eighth to strand the bases loaded, recorded the first two outs in the ninth before yielding to Dany Jimenez with runners on first and second.

After a protracted battle, Jimenez struck out Filiere to end the game, recording his second save of the series and the season.

Grudzielanek went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Lugnuts' offense, and Yeltsin Gudino went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

The Lugnuts, sitting in first place atop the Eastern Division, return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Friday to open a seven-game homestand against the Fort Wayne TinCaps and Lake County Captains. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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