Lake County Sentinel
Captains run over by Hot Rods in doubleheader disaster
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
The Lake County Captains and Bowling Green Hot Rods played a doubleheader, sort of on Sunday at Classic Park. The two had to complete a suspended game from April 19, which the Hot Rods won 8-4. The second game a seven-inning affair, was a complete disaster from the Captains stand point as the Hot Rods pounded them 17-6.
On April 19th
The Hot Rods scored early in the first inning when they put two runs on the board off Captains starter Brady Aiken. After retiring the first hitter Garrett Whitley on strikes the big lefty allowed three consecutive doubles by Jesus Sanchez, Michael Brosseau and Nathaniel Lowe. When the smoke cleared the Hot Rods led 2-0 at the end of the top of the first inning. That was all the scoring for 52 days.
The game finally resumed at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. In the top of the sixth inning off Captains reliever Ben Krauth the Hot Rods put up three runs to increase the lead to 5-0.
The Captains put two runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth off Hot Rods reliever Peter Bayer. Bayer relieved J.D. Busfield who started and pitched four perfect innings before the rain came.
Lake County got to within 5-3 when they added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Captains would not get any closer in the game as the Hot Rods added three runs in the top of ninth, to increase their lead to 8-3. Lake County managed one run in the bottom of the ninth to pull to within four at 8-4 which proved to be the final score
Aiken took the loss for the Captains and considering the game is official for April 19, he falls to 0-3 with a 4:05 ERA. Peter Bayer picked up the win in relief for Bowling Green. With the win (April 19th stats) he improves to 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA.
Scheduled Game
The second game, which was the regularly scheduled game was to say the least an eventful slugfest.
The Hot Rods got on the board early in game two, with a pair of runs in the second inning. The Captains countered with three in the bottom of the inning to take a brief lead 3-2. The Inning for Lake County included three doubles by Kevin Bradley, Jose Vincente and Todd Isaacs. The big blow was the double by Vincente, which drove in two runs (Bradley and Jose Medina who singled earlier in the inning).
From that point on it was all Hot Rods and it got ugly, sinfully ugly. The Hot Rods scored multiple runs in three of the final five innings including two six run innings (third and fifth), they added one final run in the seventh inning. The run in the seventh came after the Captains failed to send out a pitcher to start the inning. Dalbert Siri quickly warmed up and pitched the final inning in the disastrous game.
Captains starting pitcher Tanner Tully, who surrendered eight runs, seven earned in just two and two thirds innings. Tully allowed 10 hits and struck out four in the forgetful outing. With the loss, he falls to 2-5 with a 3.68 ERA. Hot Rods starter Willy Ortiz picked up the win. Ortiz, pitched five innings allowing three runs all earned to improve to 1-1 with an ERA of 6.75.
The Captains and Hot Rods will complete the unconventional series on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Classic Park. Ryan Merritt, hero of the 2017 ALCS for the Cleveland Indians will be making a rehab start and will be on the mound for Lake County.
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @IndiansTim Check out our IndiansNation fan Page
POSTED 06/11/2017 23:49
Lake County Captains Outfielder Emmanuel Tapia. Photo by Greg Goth
