Lugnuts stay hot, continue Loons' skid

MIDLAND, Mich. - The Lansing Lugnuts entered Thursday night's series opener at Great Lakes winners of nine of their last ten games. The Loons entered having lost a franchise record 11 consecutive games.

Both streaks, one up and one down, continued: All-Star Maximo Castillo posted his third consecutive scoreless start and the Lugnuts (7-1, 50-28) stopped the Loons (0-8, 24-52), 5-1, on Thursday at Dow Diamond.

Castillo (Win, 7-2) held the Loons to two hits and two walks in five scoreless innings, striking out four. In the process, he extended his scoreless streak to a team high 16 straight innings.

The Nuts also received strong relief from Kyle Weatherly , who pitched three scoreless innings while allowing only one base runner, a sixth-inning single. Brody Rodning gave up a run on two hits in the ninth before closing the game out.

Brandon Grudzielanek went 2-for-4 with a single, double and two runs scored to lead the offense, with Norberto Obeso supplying two singles, an RBI and a run scored and Samad Taylor adding an RBI double and a run scored.

Loons starter Victor Gonzalez (Loss, 0-2) gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

All-Star Maverik Buffo goes for his league-leading ninth win in the second game of the four-game series, set for 7:05 p.m. on Friday, opposed by Loons left-hander Leo Crawford (4.29 ERA).

The next Lugnuts home game is a huge one: on the 4th of July against the West Michigan Whitecaps, a 6:30 p.m. start followed by an Independence Day LAFCU Fireworks Spectacular! To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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