Captains slayed by Dragons 4-1

(EASTLAKE, OH) – On Saturday night the Lake County Captains and Dayton Dragons played game five of their six game series. The two teams split the first four. Game five was a pitchers’ duel until late when Dayton added three runs to capture the victory 4-1.

There have been a lot of uncertainties during this baseball season, but one thing is for sure when starting pitcher Daniel Espino takes the mound for the Captains two things will happen, he will throw hard and there will be a lot of strike outs. Tonight’s game was no exception as he consistently 99 mph and even touched 100 a couple times. He also struck out 10 Dayton hitters in five and two thirds inning. The only blemish for Espino in the game was a fifth inning solo home run by Dragon’s right fielder Allan Cerda. The homer run was Cerda’s which was his second of the season was the only hit Espino allowed.

Dayton’s starter Carson Spiers nephew of former Major Leaguer Billy Spiers was almost as impressive as Espino. Spiers went five innings allowing just one run on two hits. He issued two base on balls while striking out seven Captains.

The Captains run came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mike Amditis drew a one out base on balls. After Raynel Delgado struck out swinging Julian Escobedo doubled to left center field driving Amditis home tying the game 1-1.

The Dragons scored their second run in the top of the eighth when Captains reliever Kevinn Kelly started the inning in relief of Tim Herrin who relieved Espino in the sixth gave up a leadoff single to Cerda and then a double to Juan Martinez to put runners on second and third. He then struck out Jack Rogers for the first out in the inning. But Eric Yang got the job done when he lifted a sacrifice fly to left field and Cerda trotted home with the Dragons second run.

The Captains threatened in the bottom of the eighth Christian Cairo led off the inning with a double, but that’s where he was stranded when the inning ended, and the score remained 2-1.

The Dragons then added a couple insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning when Michael Siani led off the inning with a double. After a ground out by Matt McLain, Ivan Johnson went deep over the left field fence giving Dayton what was the eventual final a 4-1 lead. The homer was Johnson’s fourth of the season.

Neither of the starting pitchers figured in the decisions. Dayton reliever Francis Peguero picked up the win and improves to 1-1 with a 5.28 ERA. Kelly took the loss for Lake County falling to 4-5 with a 4.58 ERA.

The teams will play the series finale on Sunday night at 6:35 p.m. James Proctor will be on the mound for the Dragons. Proctor a righty is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA. The Captains Sunday guy Mason Hickman will be on the mound. Hickman also a righthander is 8-7 with a 4.66 ERA.

tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @TBBucsTim Check out our IndiansNation fan Page

POSTED 09/11/2021 23:12

Lake County Captains Daniel Espino. Photo by Tim Shirer