Captains walk off on Lugnuts 4-3
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains and Lansing Lugnuts played game three of their six game series on Friday night. For the 1,573 fans in attendance they went home happy as the Captains won a thriller in walk off fashion 4-3.
Once again, the Lugnuts got on the board first with two runs in the third inning off Captains starter Lenny Torres. With one out in the inning Gabriel Maciel singled. Torres did not help his cause when he made a bad throw on a pickoff attempt and Maciel advanced to second base. After Jonny Butler flew out Jack Winkler singled on a sharp line drive and Maciel scored the first run of the contest. Winkler advance to second on throwing error by Captains right fielder Connor Kokx. The second run of the inning came next when Tyler Sodersstrom the Oakland A’s number one prospect belted a single to right field and Winkler scored.
The Captains came back in the fourth inning and tied the game 2-2 off Lansing reliever Grant Holman. The inning began when Joe Naranjo singled and then Christian Cairo drew a base on balls. After Petey Halpin flew out to right field Jhonkensy Noel followed with a double to left field and both runners scored, tying the game 2-2.
The Lugnuts regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Butler doubled to start the inning off Captains reliever Mason Hickman. Butler then left the game with an apparent injury and was replaced by pinch runner Lazaro Armenteros. After Winkler lined out to center field Matt Cross reached on a base on balls. The big blow in the inning came next when Euribiel Angeles singled to right field and Armenteros crossed the place with what turned out to be the winning run giving the Lugnuts a 3-2 lead.
The Captains last chance came in the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2. Daniel Martinez entered in relief to start the ninth inning for the Lugnuts. Martinez entered the game with an ERA of 20.25. Noel drew a base on balls to leadoff the inning. Then after throwing two balls to Angel Martinez the big blow of the game came when Angel planted a Daniel pitch over the right field fence to give the Captains a 4-3 walk off win.
Havana, Cuba native Randy Labaut picked up the win for the Captains and improves to 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA. Labaut pitched the final two thirds of an inning striking out one batter. Daniel Martinez picked up the loss and falls to 0-3 with a 24.75.
The two clubs will play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. In game one Jeff Criswell will make the start for the Lugnuts. Criswell is 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA. The Captains will send Gavin Williams will make start for Lake County. Williams is 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA. In Game two the probables are Stevie Emanuels for the Lugnuts, Emanuels is 1-2 with an 8.53 ERA. Doug Nikhazy will take the hill for Lake County. Nikhazy is 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA..
POSTED 04/29/2022 22:00