Captains rally late, squeak past Lugnuts 4-3

(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains and Lansing Lugnuts finished their six-game series on Sunday afternoon one day after a doubleheader that saw the Lugnuts no-hit the Captains with an 8-0 win after the Captains shut out the Lugnuts 3-0 in the first game. The Captains bats came a live early on Sunday and a little late to end the homestand with a 4-3 win.

The Captains were taking no chances of nearly getting no-hit or shut out as the bats came out hot. Joe Naranjo led off the first inning with a single. Christian Cairo then grounded into a fielder’s choice where Naranjo was retired at second Cairo reached first safely. Petey Halpin then came to the place and blasted his first home run of season over the left field fence to give Lake County the early 2-0 lead. They were not done in the inning, however. Jhonkensy Noel followed Halpin with a solo home run to left field to extend the Captains advantage to 3-0.

The Lugnuts struck back in the third inning when Lazaro Armenteros blasted his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot deep over the left-center field wall. The home run narrowed the Lake County lead to two runs at 3-1.

The Lugnuts tied the game in the sixth inning off Captains reliever Hunter Stanley who relieved starter Tommy Mace who pitched the first five innings. With one out in the inning Austin Beck reached on an infield single to shortstop Christian Cairo. Beck then rode home on a home run by Tyler Soderstrom. The home run by Soderstrom was his third of the season.

Lake County regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Raynel Delgado led off the inning with a single off Lansing starter Osvaldo Berrios. Berrios then issued a base on balls to Micael Ramirez. Connor Kokx then attempted to but put a bunt down and after failing grounded into a double play, Delgado was out at third and Ramirez moved to second base. Finally, Korey Holland tripled to the center field gap and Ramirez scored the go ahead run giving Lake County a 4-3 advantage. That was the end of the night for Berrios.

Hunter Stanley picked up the win for Lake County and improves to 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA. Berrios took the loss for the Lugnuts and falls to 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA.

The game length was a quick 1:57, the shortest nine inning game for Lake County Since June 18, 2016 against the Cubs in South Bend.

The Captains will have the day off on Monday before they travel to Dayton to play the first place Dragons for six games beginning on Tuesday at Day Air Ballpark at 7:05 pm. Pitchers for game one have not been announced, but Captains will most likely send Tanner Bibee to the hill as he has been the team’s Tuesday starter thus far this season. Bibee is 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA in three starts. The righthander has struck out 18 hitters in 11.2 innings and issued only two base on balls..

tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @TBBucsTim Check out our IndiansNation fan Page

POSTED 05/01/2022 15:29

Lake County Captains outfielder Petey Halpin. Photo by Tim Shirer