Lugnuts end skid with 11-4 laugher

APPLETON, Wisc. - Kevin Smith notched four hits, Yeltsin Gudino drove in four runs, and the Lansing Lugnuts (19-13) enjoyed an 11-4 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (13-18) on Tuesday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

The win ended a season-high four-game Lugnuts losing streak.

The Nuts put the game away early with a five-run second inning against Wisconsin starter Bowden Francis (Loss, 1-1) and a four-run fourth against reliever Carlos Herrera .

Lansing piled up 14 hits - four by shortstop Smith, who raised his average to .370, and three by second baseman Kevin Vicuña , who also drew two of the team's 10 walks. Smith, Vicuña, Norberto Obeso and Brock Lundquist each scored two runs.

Gudiño, returning to the Lugnuts from A-Advanced Dunedin, made his first game back in the Midwest League a memorable one: a two-run single in the fourth, a bases-loaded walk in the fifth and an RBI groundout in the seventh.

Ryan Noda went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, ending an 0-for-23 slump, and drew three walks. Noda leads Minor League Baseball with 33 walks.

Lansing starting pitcher Maverik Buffo (Win, 4-1) was the recipient of the support, firing five innings and allowing only Gabriel Garcia's solo home run in the fifth.

Donnie Sellers worked the sixth through the eighth innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. Brody Rodning gave up an unearned run in the ninth.

The series finale at Neuroscience Group Field will be held at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, a rubber match pitting 19-year-old Lugnuts right-hander Maximo Castillo (3.60 ERA) against Timber Rattlers right-hander Alec Bettinger (5.92).

The Nuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Monday, May 14th, opening a seven-game homestand on a Dog Days of Summer. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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