Eastlake, OH - The weather held out as the storms pushed to the south so that the Lake County Captains could take on the Great Lakes Loons on Star Wars night at Classic Park. Having won 2 straight, the Captains were looking to extend their streak with Doug Nikhazy (0-1 and a 4.20 ERA) getting the starting nod. Meanwhile Kendall Williams (0-1 with a 7.71 ERA) started for the Loons. The top of the 1st already had tons of drama as Captains pitcher Nikhazy struck out his first two batters, then gave up a infield single to Loons 2B Jorbit Vivas, followed by a double to DH Leonel Valera. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Nikhazy, with a full count, got 1B Ismael Alcantara to fly out to left getting out of a very early jam. The Bottom of the 1st was just as filled with action as the top of the first as Captains 1B Joe Naranjo walked to start the inning. Behind him the 10th ranked prospect in the Guardians farm system SS Angel Martinez singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd. CF Petey Halpin struck out and Jhonkensy Noel grounded into an inning ending double play, ending the threat. The start of the 2nd inning saw the first batter for Great Lakes, C Ryan January hit a moon shot solo home run to right field, his 2nd of the year, giving the Loons a 1-0 lead. After a strike out and then a walk of LF Joe Vranesh, RF Jonny DeLuca hit a 2 run homer to the left field bleachers, his 11th on the season and 4th of this series against the Captains running the lead up to 3-0. Doug Nikhazy was relived in the top of the 3rd by Damon Casetta-Stubbs. Nikhazy gave up 3 runs, but more importantly has already thrown 61 pitches. Casetta-Stubbs, who has only played in one other game thus far this season, gave up a home run to the first batter he faced in the top of the 3rd in 2B Jorbit Vivas as the Loons home run parade continued and pushed the lead to 4-0. The bottom of three saw the Captains first two batters strike out. SS Angel Ramirez hit a double to right. Then CF Petey Halpin, who is the youngest player on the roster at just 19 years old rocketed a grounder that past 2B Vivas and scoring Ramirez from second cutting the lead to 4-1. The top of the 4th didn't fair any better for Lake County, with 2 outs the Loons 3B Hector Ramirez singled up the middle, followed by a walk of RF Jonny DeLuca. Eddys Leonard was next, a top prospect within the Dodgers organization, bombed a 3 run home run to center field and extended the lead to 7-1. Loons starting pitcher Kendall Williams was replaced in the bottom of the 4th with Kevin Malisheski (0-0 with a 6.75 ERA). Casetta-Stubbs was taken in out with 1 out and 2 on in the top of the 5th for Jordan Jones (2-1 with a 1.50 ERA). Jones was able to get out of the inning unscathed Great Lakes only left in Malisheski for 1 inning and was replaced by Antonio Knowles (1-2 with a 0.00 ERA) in the bottom of the 5th and Knowles was replaced by Carlos Alejo (8.44 ERA) in the bottom on the 6th for Great Lakes. DH Jhonkensy Noel was hit by pitch, stole second base, advanced to 3rd on a ground out by 2B Raynel Delgado and scored on a wild pitch by Alejo. it was the lone run in the bottom of the 6th inning, but put another run on the board for the Captains making the score 7-2. Loons DH Leonel Valera absolutely crushed a ball of off Jordan Jones over the bleachers and onto the inflatable slide behind the bleachers in left in the top of the 7th. The Loons 5th home run of the game. Jones was relived with 2 out and 2 on the middle of the inning with Captains LH Raymond Burgos. Burgos got the final out without giving up any more runs. After a plethora of pitching changes over the final innings for the Loons the one thing that didn't change was the Captains offense. Things just couldn't get going for Lake County, while the Loons just hit homer after homer. Great Lakes Loons took the win 8-2 on a five home run night. The final game in the home stand for the Captains is Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM. Tommy Mace (0-1 with 4.58 ERA) starts for the Captains against the Loons Nick Nastrini (0-0 with a 2.30 ERA).
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