Eastlake, OH- The Lake County Captains (31-26) have been playing some of their best baseball all season over the last few weeks and looked to continue their winnings ways against the Beloit Sky Carp (25-32) on blistering hot Wednesday night at Classic Park.
The Captains had Aaron Davenport (2-3, 2.72 ERA) on the mound to start the game while the Sky Carp had M.D. Johnson (3-5, 3.35 ERA) getting the nod.
In the Bottom of the first, Davenport walked SS Nasim Nunez, the Sky Carps best runner. with 1 out Beloit CF Victor Mesa Jr hit a blooper that looked as if it was going to drop, but newly promoted Milan Tolentino who was called up from Lynchburg and is in his second game for Lake County made an absolute circus catch over his shoulder to save what could have been the first run of the game.
Captains DH Johnathon Rodriguez started the bottom of the 2nd inning with a double. He then was able to advance to third on a wild pick off throw by Johnson. SS Milan Tolentino came up next and hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Rodriguez from third and earning his first RBI as a Captain, giving Lake County the lead 1-0.
Beloit 1B Marcus Chiu was walked by Davenport in the top of the 3rd. leadoff hitter and 2B Cody Morissette then drove a single to right center advancing Chiu to third base. A walk to SS Nasim Nunez loaded the bases with one out. CF Victor Mesa Jr hit a bomb high and deep to left center, the ball just kept carrying a just hit over the wall for a grand slam, giving Beloit a 4-1 lead
With the 4 runs scored just in the top of the third, it was the most runs Aaron Davenport has conceded in a game all year. He has not given up more than 2 runs in a game earned or unearned in a game all season.
Captains biggest power hitter and RF Jhonkensy Noel blasted a no doubt home run to left center and over the bleachers. A solo shot, giving Noel his 17th home run on the season, and cutting into the lead 4-2.
Aaron Davenport was relieved in the top of the 6th inning by Alaska Abney (2-1, 4.34 ERA). Davenport gave up 4 runs all in the top of the third from the grand slam by Victor Mesa Jr. Davenport walked three and struck out 6, including the last 5 batters he faced.
Jordan Jones (2-1, 5.18 ERA) came in for Alaska Abney in the top of the 7th. Abney gave up no runs in only a inning of work.
Beloit finally relieved M.D. Johnson in the bottom of the 8th by Jackson Rose (1-1, 3.25 ERA. Johnson had a great night in 7 innings of work, giving up 7 hits, 2 runs, no walks, and 8 strike outs.
Rose had no trouble getting through the bottom of the 8th sitting down the Captains one, two, three. The Captains had only one hit since Noel's homer in the bottom of the 4th.
In the bottom of the ninth Jhonkensy Noel crushed a double to the wall in right center, but that was all the offense the Captains could muster in a 4-2 loss to the Sky Carp.
After the Game I talked with Coach Greg Dicenzo and he talked about really just having one bad inning, not having enough traffic on the bases to score, and also Jhonkensy Noel's continued power and Milan Tolentino's potential after getting his first hit and RBI as a member of the Captains.
Captains are back at it again tomorrow night again against the Beloit Sky Carp at Classic Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. As of now the starting pitchers are still TBD.
Players of the Game
Captains
Jhonkensy Noel- 2-4 1 HR 12B 1 RBI 1 Run
Milan Tolentino- 1-3 1 RBI
Sky Carp
M.D. Johnson- 7 IP 7 HA 2 ER 0 BB 8 K
Victor Mesa Jr- 1-4 1 HR 4 RBI 1 Run