Eastlake, OH- The Lake County Captains looked to get their seventh win in a row against the The Fort Wayne TinCaps at Classic Park on Friday. The Captains have been inching closer to the top spot in the Midwest League East, looking to make the playoffs, and are only two games behind West Michigan entering the day.
The Captains had the red hot RHP Jack Leftwich (3-0, 2.39 ERA) starting on the mound while the TinCaps went with LHP Jackson Wolf (6-6, 4.12 ERA) to start.
The TinCaps scored first in the top of the 1st inning as Captains starting pitcher Jack Leftwich struggled to find a grove. He walked 2 batters before Fort Wayne's LF Albert Fabian hit a single scoring a run and giving the TinCaps a 1-0 lead. Leftwich was able to get out the inning just giving up that lone run.
After the first inning both teams struggled to get on base. Leftwich settled in, and TinCaps Jackson Wolf never let up.
Jack Leftwich was pulled after pitching 5.0 innings, giving up 1 run on 3 hits, walking 2, and striking out 3. RHP Mason Hickman (2-5, 4.55 ERA) was the man to replace him.
Captains LF Johnathan Rodriguez came through again in the bottom of the 6th with the longest home run I have seen this season at Classic Park. Officially a 438 foot solo home run that cleared the advertisement signs in left center and hit the bouncy house behind it. His 19th home run of the year. After the home run however, TinCaps Jackson Wolf struck out the next three Captains keep the game tied at 1-1.
Nick Thwaits (3-4, 3.60 ERA) relieved Jackson Wolf for the TinCaps after Wolf went 6.0 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 10.
The Captains did what the Captains have been doing all series long. Coming through when needed. In the bottom of 8th SS Angel Martinez singled. 1B Joe Naranjo hit a ball deep to left center and the TinCaps LF Albert Fabian couldn't field it cleanly, allowing Martinez to score from first, and Naranjo to advance to second. A fly out by Johnathan Rodriguez allowed Naranjo to get to third. RF Alexfri Planez hit a moon shot that the center fielder lost. The ball hit near the wall in center and over the fence for a ground rule double, scoring Naranjo and giving the Captains a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th.
Captains brought in RHP Elvis Jerez, who was just brought up from Low-A Lynchburg came in to close out the game, and was able to shock the TinCaps going one, two, three giving Lake County their seventh win in a row by winning 3-1.
The Captains have seemed to always come to life right when they need to during this winning streak, whether it's a defensive play, pitching, or needing a hit. The Captains are now 59-45 on the season.
After the game we talked with Coach Greg Dicenzo about a number of topics including the winning streak.
"I probably don't think they know and to honest, I wouldn't know either except when you guys tell me."
Coach Dicenzo has his players locked in right now. They are only focused on the next game and not looking ahead. A great way to keep a great team moving toward a playoff spot.
The Captains go for eight in a row, again, against Fort Wayne tomorrow at 6:35 P.M. at Classic Park. Lake County will have RHP Tommy Mace (0-4, 4.97 ERA) starting while Fort Wayne has RHP Jose Espada (0-1, 3.44 ERA) on the mound.
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