Lake County Sentinel
Captains drop game one of the Midwest League East Championship 7-2
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains and Great Lakes Loons have always had a good rivalry going back to 2010 when Lake County entered the Midwest League and won the championship in their first season the league knock Great Lakes out in the first round that season. This season was no exception as the two teams played 24 times and the Captains won the season series 13-11 taking 8 of the last 12 games. Two teams scored 204 runs combined in the season series with both teams scoring 102 apiece. The series did not start off the way the 1,535 in attendance at Classic Park would have liked as the Loons took game one of the Midwest League East Championship series 7-2.
The two starting pitchers for game one were Carlos Duran for the Loons. Duran was a 2018 international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He is a righthander and is 1-3 with a 4.25 ERA. The Captains sent Will Dion to the mound. Dion a ninth-round pick of the Indians in the 2021 MLB July Draft.
The Loons struck first in the second inning off Dion with a solo home run by Damon Keith. Keith had five home runs during the regular season for the Loons, this was his first post season HR. The damage however was not done. After the home run Dion issued a free pass to Dalton Rushing. After Jose Ramos on a pop up to Captains second baseman Yordys Valdes. Austin Gauthier then singled on a blooper to right field. Dion then loaded the bases when Imanol Vargas walked. The big blow in the inning came next when Yunior Garcia doubled to deep left driving home two runs giving the Loons a 3-0 lead. Dion did not survive the inning as Captains manager Greg DiCenzo lifted Dion after he struck out the next batter Eddys Leonard for the second out in the inning. Righthander Alaska Abney came in to relieve Dion and record the final out of the frame.
The Captains responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. With one out Petey Halpin singled to left field. After Connor Kokx struck out, Korey Holland hit a laser double to center field driving home Halpin with the Captains first run.
The Captains drew within one run in the third inning when Milan Tolentino hit a solo home run closing the gap to 3-2. Tolentino hit three home runs in 66 games during the regular season.
The Loons added two insurance runs in the seventh inning off Captains reliever Davis Sharpe.
The Loons blew the game open in the ninth inning with two more runs off Captains reliever Elvis Jerez. Jerez did not finish the inning and left the building and was replaced by Zach Hart.
River Ryan picked up the winning pitching three and two thirds’ innings of scoreless relief for Great Lakes and picked up the win. Dion took the loss for Lake County.
The Captains and Loons will play game two of the best of three series on Thursday night in Midland, Michigan at Dow Diamond. Adolfo Ramirez will be on the hill for the Loons. Ramirez, a righty is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA. Tommy Mace will tow the rubber for Lake County. Mace, also a righthander is 1-5 with a 4.55 ERA.
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @TBBucsTim Check out our IndiansNation fan Page
POSTED 09/13/2022 22:19
Lake County Captains shortstop Milan Tolentino. Photo by Tim Shirer
