Eastlake, OH- The Lake County Captains (43-39) took on the Dayton Dragons (44-38) on Thursday night, after getting a one day break on Wednesday night with the game being postponed due to showers in the area. The Captains had RHP Aaron Davenport and his flowing golden locks (2-4, 4,53 ERA) to start while Dayton gave the nod to RHP Christian Roa (3-3, 4.86 ERA). The Captains have been on a roll as of late with great play across the board and looked to go five games above .500 on the season.
In the top of the 1st Dayton SS Elly De La Cruz stretched a single into a double on a hard hit ball to right center. He then advanced to 3rd base on a wild pitch. Clean up hitter and 1B Ruben Ibarra stepped to the plate and smashed a fast ball deep and over the bleachers in left field to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the 3rd Captains pitcher Aaron Davenport struck out the side. He really settled in after the 1st inning.
Dayton brought in LHP Jacques Pucheu (2-2, 4.97 ERA) to relieve Christian Roa in the bottom of the 6th. Roa pitched 5 innings giving up 4 hits, walking 4, and striking out 6 while giving up no runs.
Lake County relieved Aaron Davenport in the bottom of the 6th with LHP Raymond Burgos (3-2, 2.58 ERA). Davenport had a solid night after a rough start. He ended up only giving up 2 runs in 6 innings pitched, while walking 2, and striking out 9. Both of the runs Davenport gave up came in the 1st inning.
In the bottom of the 7th Captains SS Milan Tolentino started off the inning with a single, followed with another single by 1B Joe Naranjo. RF Alexfri Planez and CF Petey Halpin both struck out next. With runners on 1st and 2nd base, LF Johnathon Rodriguez bombed a 3-run home run to right center on a 1-2 count to not only put the Captains on the board, but also give them the lead 3-2. That was Johnathon Rodriguez's 10th home run of the season and also his 4th home run against Dayton.
RHP Trey Benton (1-3, 1.95 ERA) was brought in by Lake County for the top of the 9th to close out the game. Unfortunately, Benton walked the first batter he faced in Dayton's CF Justice Thompson.
Next up was SS Elly De La Cruz for Dayton, who had 20 home runs on the season, but Benton was able to strike him out on three pitches. Benton then got C Daniel Vellojin to ground into a game ending double play, and the Captains took the win 3-2 to improve to 44-39 on the season. The series continues at 7:00 Friday night for Fireworks night at Classic Park.
Players of the Game
Captains-
LF Johnathon Rodriguez- 2-3 Home run 3 RBI 1 Run
Dragons
1B Ruben Ibarra- 1-3 Home run 2 RBI 1 Run
