BY TIMOTHY W. SHIRER SPORTS EDITOR (EASTLAKE, OH)- On Thursday night at Classic Park the Lake County Captains met a struggling Dayton Dragons team. The Dragons came into the game losers of 9 of their last 10 games and had no offensive punch. In the game the Captains did not exactly hit the cover off the ball tallying only four hits in the game, but it was good enough to beat the Dragons 2-1.
The Captains took the lead right away in the first inning of Dayton starting pitcher Tanner Robles. The inning began in exciting fashion as the first batter for the Captains Todd Hankins tripled into the left field bullpen. After Robel Garcia struck out swinging, Alex Monsalve hit a sacrfice fly to center field and Hankins came home with the first run of the game, giving the Captains the 1-0 lead.
Cody Anderson made the start for the Captains and once again pitched well. Anderson did not have his best stuff on Thursday night but battled the entire six innings he worked. Captains manager Dave Wallace commented "I don't think he had his best stuff, but he battled for six innings." Wallace went on to say, "I was very encouraged."
The Dragons scored one run in the game and it came in the second inning. Juan Silva drew a walk to lead off the inning. After Steve Selsky flew out to right field, Kyle Waldrop singled to right field and ended up on second base when right fielder Jordan Smith bobbled the ball and Silva ended up at third base. Silva finally crossed the plate with Dayton's only run of the game when the next batter Nick O'Shea grounded out to second base, the game was tied 1-1.
The Captains took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with the only run they needed the rest of the night when Alex Lavisky hit a laser home run over the left field bleachers. After the game when Lavisky was asked about the home run he said, "It sure felt good, it was a fastball." The home run gave the Captains the 2-1 lead.
Anderson who went the first six inning for the Captains picked up he win. Anderson allowed only one run on six hits. He walked two and struck out five Dragons. With the win Anderson improves to 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Jeff Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Lake County and picked up his fourth save.
Robles took the loss for Dayton, he falls to 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Robles worked six innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The Dayton lefty walked one Captains hitter and struck out four.
With the win the Captains move closer to the .500 mark at 15-18. They are 12-5 in their last 17 games. The Captains are only four and a half games out of the wild card spot in the Midwest League Eastern Division.
The Captains and Dragons will finish their three game series on Friday night at 6:30 at Classic Park. Left hander Shawn Morimando will be on the mound for the Captains he will making his second start of the season. Moimando is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA. Stalin Gerson will make the start for the Dragons. Gerson is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA.. tshirer@lakecounty-sentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @TimothyShirer POSTED 05/10/2012 22:44
