Captains drop series finale to Lugnuts 8-4
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains and Lansing Lugnuts completed their six-game series on Sunday evening. The Captains entered the series with a 3-2 lead, but the Lugnuts used the longball to win the final game 8-4 and earn the series split.
The Lugnuts got on the board early in the second inning with four runs off Captains starter Tommy Mace. The big blow in the inning was a three-run home run by Lawrence Butler, his eighth of the season to give the Lugnuts a 4-0 advantage.
The Captains got on the board in the bottom of the second when Connor Kokx with two outs. He then scored when Zac Fascia doubled to center field to cut the lead to 4-1.
The Lugnuts extended the lead back to four runs in the top of the fourth inning when Matt Cross blasted his sixth home run of the seasons over the left field fence.
The Lugnuts put two more runs on the board in the seventh inning with two outs and Captains reliever Davis Sharpe allowed double, issued a base on balls and then the big blow was a single by Jack Winkler driving home two runs giving the Lugnuts a 7-1 lead.
The Captains added their second run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Korey Holland belted a solo shot over the left field wall. It was his fifth home run of the season and fourth since June 23.
The Lugnuts added their final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning when Winkler drove in Drew Swift for his third RBI of the game. Swift had singled to start off the inning.
Trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth the Captains attempted to mount a comeback. Holland led the inning off with a single. After Angle Martinez flew out Joe Naranjo drew a base on balls. Both runners scored two batters later when Petey Halpin laced a doubled to center field pulling the Captains to within four runs at 8-4. The game ended one hitter later when Gabriel Rodriguez grounded out to third baseman Joshwan Wright.
Lugnuts reliever Osvaldo Berrios picked up the win pitching five innings of two hit baseball. He gave up one run, it was earned. He issued three base on balls and struck out eight Captains. With the win Berrios improves to 2-8 with a 7.13 ERA. Mace took the loss for Lake County. He went four innings allowing five runs, all earned on six base hits. He also issued three base on balls while striking out five Lugnuts batters. With the loss Mace falls to 0-4 with a 6.49 ERA.
With the loss the Captains season record is now 39-36 and 4-5 in the second half.
The Captains will travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to play the TinCaps at 6:05 pm on Monday night. The series will be six games with an off day on Tuesday after game one. Probable pitchers have not been announced..
POSTED 07/03/2022 21:12