Eastlake, OH- The Lake County Captains (52-43) took on the Great Lakes Loons (58-39) Wednesday night looking to get another win and inch closer to first place. The Captains have seen a power surge from players such as LF Johnathan Rodriguez and RF Alexfri Planez as of late. The Captains had Rodney Boone (1-2, 4.88 ERA) on the mound to start the game, while the Loons gave the start to Emmet Sheehan (5-2, 3.49 ERA).
On the very first pitch of the game Loons SS Eddys Leonard blasted a solo home run deep to left field. It was Leonard's 10th home run of the season, and gave the Loons a 1-0 early in the game. five of his ten home runs this season have come against the Captains.
In the top of the second Loons 3B Luis Diaz walked to reach first. Next up LF Aldrich De Jongh bombed a 2 run homer to right. DH Harold Restituyo singled to left and was driven in on a triple by CF Ismael Alcantara. Alcantara was driven in on a ground out by Eddys Leonard for his 2nd RBI of the game. The inning was mercifully ended on a ground out by 2B Jorbit Vivas, but the damage had been done and the Loons had a 5-0 lead.
Again in the top of 3rd inning Captains pitcher Rodney Boone found himself in trouble with the first batter he faced in the form of Loons RF Jose Ramos. Boone fell behind in the count, and on a 3-0 fastball Ramos hit a solo home run straight away to center field, extending the Loons lead to 6-0.
The Captains had a chance to put a run on the board in the bottom of the 3rd after LF Korey Holland tripled off the wall to center with one out. Unfortunately, SS Angel Martinez popped out to the catcher and 1B Joe Naranjo grounded out to first, ending the inning still trailing 6-0.
The Captains finally came to life in the bottom of the 3rd. With 2 out, CF Petey Halpin doubled, followed by another double by 3B Gabriel Rodriguez scoring Halpin. 2B Aaron Bracho hit a grounder to first that kicked out of the glove of Loons 1B Imanol Vargas and Bracho reached first on the error and Rodriguez scored. C Mike Amditis hit the Captains third double of the inning scoring Bracho. A wild inning that cut the lead in half with the Captains finally getting on the board, but still trailing 6-3.
The Loons came right back in the top of the 5th. After a single by 1B Imanol Vargas, 3B Luis Diaz homered to center field, his 2nd of the season with the Loons. A two run home run, giving the Loons a 8-3 lead.
The Captains answered in the bottom of the 5th when 1B Joe Naranjo hit his 13th home run of the year. A solo shot that again cut the lead to 8-4.
Captains RHP Jack Degroat (1-0, 2.45 ERA) relieved Rodney Boone in the top of the 6th. Boone gave up 10 hits, 8 runs, all earned, and had zero strike outs.
Loons replaced Emmet Sheehan in the bottom of the 6th with RHP Antonio Knowles (3-3, 3.86 ERA). Sheehan gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, 2 earned, and struck out 8.
Loons 3B Luis Diaz was walked in the top of the 7th. Diaz then stole 2nd base and advanced to third on a ground out. DH Harold Restituyo also walked and stole 2nd with two outs. CF Ismael Alcantara reached first on a error to short that hopped off of Captains SS Angel Martinez glove, scoring Diaz. Eddys Leonard walked to load the bases. Loons 2B Jorbit Vivas on a full count, ripped a ball deep to left right field, and over the wall for a grand slam. Another massive inning for the Loons gave them a 13-4 lead.
Great Lakes added another run in the top of the 9th on a sacrifice fly by SS Eddys Leonard.
The Captains just couldn't get anything going, while Great Lakes was hot the entire game. The Captains went one, two, three in the bottom of the 9th to end the game.
The Captains gave up five home runs to the Loons in the 14-4 loss, dropping the Captains to 52-44 on the year. The Captains are back at it Thursday at Classic Park 7:00 P.M. looking to bounce back against Great Lakes.
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