Maximum Maximo and HR binge lift Lugs

LANSING, Mich. - Maximo Castillo tossed six scoreless innings and Chavez Young , Brock Lundquist and Ryan Noda homered, helping the Lansing Lugnuts (3-0, 46-27) stave off the Great Lakes Loons (0-3, 24-47), 10-6, before a Saturday night crowd of 8,642 at Cooley Law School Stadium.
AUDIO: Young, Lundquist and Noda's home runs

The Lugnuts have won six consecutive games, all at home, including a sweep of South Bend to close out the first half.

The 19-year-old Castillo (Win, 6-2), coming off a scoreless inning in Tuesday's Midwest League All-Star Game presented by LAFCU, tied a career high in innings pitched while scattering four hits and striking out five Loons - including 2018 ninth-rounder Josh McLain three times.

Young delivered an RBI double and a two-run homer, his first since May 3rd, in helping the Lugnuts build a 7-0 lead with three runs off Loons starter Victor Gonzalez (Loss, 0-1) in the third, three runs off reliever Yeison Cespedes in the fourth and one in the fifth on a Samad Taylor RBI single off reliever Luis Pasen.

The Nuts appeared to be cruising to a victory, only to see a six-run Loons seventh inning against relievers Andrew Deramo and Dany Jimenez tighten the game up in a hurry.

That's when left fielder Lundquist stepped up, blasting his team-leading 12th home run of the year, a two-run shot, off Pasen in the bottom of the seventh to rebuild the Lugs' lead to 9-6.

First baseman Noda added insurance with a massive 400+ home run to left-center in the eighth against sidearmer Sven Schueller. It was Noda's tenth home run of the year - and his ninth in June.

Jimenez retired the final seven batters of the game for his fourth save of the season.

Sunday is a Delta Dental Kids Day with Play Catch on the Field pregame and Kids Run the Bases postgame! Lansing right-hander Maverik Buffo (4.69 ERA) starts against Loons left-hander Leo Crawford (4.14) at 1:05 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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