Lugs' rout finishes home sweep of Dayton

LANSING, Mich. - Chavez Young homered and drove in four runs, and the Lansing Lugnuts (27-20, 70-47) completed a remarkable home sweep of the Dayton Dragons (20-27, 51-64) with an 11-4 romp in front of 8,770 on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Lugnuts went 11-0 at home against the Dragons in 2018, conducting two four-game sweeps in the first half and this three-game sweep in the second half. The Nuts also improved to 15-3 overall vs. Dayton in the season series.

Lansing became the fifth Minor League Baseball team to reach the 70-win threshold.

Young supplied an RBI grounder in the first inning; walked, stole a base and scored in the third; doubled in a run in the fourth; and belted a two-run homer to left field in the seventh, his seventh home run of the year.

The effort came as part of a productive night for the top and bottom of the Lugnuts' order: 1-2-3 hitters Reggie Pruitt , Samad Taylor and Young combined for seven runs scored, six RBIs, five hits and two walks, while 8-9 batters Freddy Rodriguez and Jesus Navarro each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Taylor singled, doubled, drove in two runs, scored two runs and stole his 40th base of the year, extending his on-base streak to 20 games. Navarro finished the three-game series with eight hits in 11 at-bats, raising his batting average to .272.

The recipient of the run support was Lugnuts starter Maximo Castillo (Win, 9-5), who limited the Dragons to one run on three hits in six innings while striking out five.

Brody Rodning pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs in the eighth before yielding to Orlando Pascual for the final four outs.

Dayton starter Patrick McGuff (Loss, 1-4) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks.

Jose Garcia slugged a ninth-inning solo home run for the Dragons in the loss.

The Lugnuts continue their seven-game homestand with a four-game series against playoff opponent Bowling Green, beginning at 7:05 p.m. Saturday on Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame / Pure Michigan Night presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. The first 1,000 fans will receive a special Michigan-themed jersey giveaway, thanks to Farm Bureau Insurance To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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