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Montero powers Peoria past Lugnuts

(Ryan LeFevre)
July 19, 2018

LANSING, Mich. - Elehuris Montero belted a pair of two-run homers, and the Peoria Chiefs (15-10, 54-41) defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (13-14, 56-41), 7-3, before a crowd of 6,904 on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.Ryan Noda went 3-for-3 with a walk and three singles for the Nuts, who have

LANSING, Mich. - Elehuris Montero belted a pair of two-run homers, and the Peoria Chiefs (15-10, 54-41) defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (13-14, 56-41), 7-3, before a crowd of 6,904 on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Ryan Noda went 3-for-3 with a walk and three singles for the Nuts, who have lost a season high six consecutive games.

After a three-run Lugnuts second inning gave the hometown heroes a 3-2 lead, Montero took Maximo Castillo (Loss, 7-5) deep with Zach Kirtley aboard, leapfrogging Peoria to a 4-3 edge.

Bryce Denton knocked a solo home run in the fourth inning, building the Chiefs' lead to 5-3.

Montero then capped the scoring - and a 3-for-4 night - with a two-run homer to left-center in the seventh against reliever Dalton Rodriguez , his 13th home run of the season.

Peoria starter Angel Rondon (Win, 2-0) tossed six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks, to outduel Castillo, who gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings.

Rodriguez fired three innings of relief for the Lugnuts, with 18-year-old Yunior Hinojosa facing the minimum in a scoreless ninth.


In addition to Noda's strong game, Brandon Grudzielanek drew two walks, Reggie Pruitt singled, doubled and stole a base, and Kevin Vicuña went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI single and two stolen bases.

Friday is a special Salute to Service with postgame LAFCU Fireworks! Lugnuts right-hander Graham Spraker (2.58 ERA) takes on Chiefs right-hander Johan Oviedo (5.11) at 7:05 p.m. in the third game of the Nuts' six-game homestand. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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