Captains walk off on Loons 4-3
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains and Great Lakes Loons played game four of their six game series on Friday night. The Captains ended a three-game skid on Thursday night winning a pitchers’ duel with the Loons 2-1. Friday’s affair was a back-and-forth contest, but in the end the 5,055 fans in attendance had their prayers answered as Angel Martinez gave the Captains a walk off win 4-3.
All of the scoring early in the game came in the fourth inning with the Loons getting on the board first in the top of the inning when Eddys Leonard doubled to start the inning off Captains starter Gavin Williams. The 6’6 238 Williams then gave up a single to Jorbit Vivas and Leonard crossed the plate with the first run of the game. Williams was able to get out of the inning giving up only the one run.
The Captains struck right back with a bomb home run and took advantage miscues by the Loons to score two runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out in the inning Aaron Bracho smashed his first home run of the season deep over the left field fence off Loon’s starter Cole Percival, son of former Major League closer Troy Percival to tie the game. After Loons pitching coach visited the mound Connor Kokx came to the plate for Lake County. Kokx hit a hard ground ball to Loon’s shortstop Eddys Leonard booted it and Kokx was safe at first. Kokx then scored when Mike Amditis came to the plate and belted a line drive single to left field. Kokx came all the way around to score on the play and give Lake county a 2-1 lead.
Amditis moved to second base on the play when Loons left fielder Joe Vranish. That was the last inning of work for Percival who went four innings allowing the two runs, only one was earned on four base hits. He issued two base on balls and struck out three.
Williams went five and two third’s innings for the Captains allowing just the one run on five hits. He issued one base on balls and struck out six.
The Loons tied the game 2-2 in eighth inning on a solo home run by Jonny DeLuca, his fifth of the year. The home run came off Captains reliever Randy Labaut.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Lake County rallied, once again taking advantage of Great Lakes mistakes. Petey Halpin led off the inning by drawing a base on balls. On the first pitch to Raynel Delgado Loons pitcher Cole Duensing uncorked a wild pitch and Halpin moved to second base. Delgado then grounded out to first base moving Halpin to third base with just one out. After the Delgado ground out Duensing exited the game and was replaced by Ryan Sublette. Sublette on his second pitch to Zac Fascia uncorked his own wild pitch allowing Halpin to scamper home with the go ahead run giving Lake County a 3-2 advantage. Sublette got out of the inning without and further damage to hold the Captains lead at 3-2.
The Loons struck back in the top of the ninth with a run when Cade Smith replaced Labaut on the mound for Lake County and immediately issued a lead walk to Kekai Rios. Rios moved to second on a passed ball by Amditis with Ryan January at the plate. Smith then recorded back-to-back strikes out of January and Edwin Mateo. With two outs Ismael Alcantara hit a routine ground ball to Angel Martinez at shortstop, Martinez fielded the ball cleanly but could not make an accurate throw to first and Rios scored all the way from second base to tie the game at 3-3.
Heading to the bottom of the ninth and there was a chance for redemption for Amditis and Martinez. With one out in the inning Amditis drew a base on balls off Loon’s reliever Jose Hernandez who came on to start the inning. Captains Skipper Greg DiCenzo then elected to pinch hit Jhonkensy Noel for Korey Holland. With Noel at the plate Hernandez uncorked a wild pitch and Amditis moved to second base. Noel then struck out for the second out of the inning. Joe Naranjo then drew a base on balls to put men on first and second. Martinez then came to the plate and on the first pitch he lined hard single to center field and Amditis motored around the bases sliding under the tags of Loons catcher Kekai Rios giving Lake County the 4-3 walk off win.
DiCenzo had mentioned a few nights ago he was disappointed in the team’s effort. He said after tonight’s win that he let them know of his displeasure and they have played harder the last two night. He said win or lose they must play hard every night.
Smith picked up the win for Lake County after blowing the save and improves to 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA. Hernandez took the loss for the Loons and falls to 1-2 with a 2.87 ERA.
Game five of the series will be played on Saturday night at 6:35 pm. Kendall Williams a righthander will be on the mound for the Loons. Williams is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA. The Captains will counter with Doug Nikhazy. Nikhazy, a southpaw is 01- with a 4.20 ERA..
POSTED 05/13/2022 22:03