Lake County Sentinel
Captains lose third straight
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
On Monday night, the Lake County Captains opened a three-game series at Classic Park against the visiting Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers). After a rough start to the homestand when they were swept in a two-game series by the Dayton Dragons they were hoping to get back on track. Things did not go well as the Captains dropped their third straight game falling to the Loons 6-2 in front of 944 fans.
Once again, the Captains fell behind early as Lake County starter Juan Hillman allowed a run in first, two more in the third inning and was knocked out of the game in the fourth inning when he allowed his final two runs of the night. The 19-year old lefty's pitching line was not pretty, as he allowed the five runs, all earned in three and two thirds innings. He gave up five hits, issued four base on balls and struck out six Loons. Two of the five hits were home runs.
Meanwhile the Lake County offense continued to sputter and fail to notch a clutch hit. As a team the Captains were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position and the team left eight men on base.
Luke Wakamatsu and Conner Capel drove in the Captains only two runs with one RBI each. Capel's RBI came on a solo home run. The HR was Capel's first professional home run.
One of the bright spots for the Captains on the pitching side was reliever Tanner Tully. The 22-year old former Ohio State Buckeye came in to relieve Hillman and pitched five innings allowing only one run, it was earned on four base hits and struck out seven Great Lakes hitters.
William Soto picked up the win in relief for the Loons. Soto went three innings in relief of starter AJ Alexy. In Soto's three innings he allowed one run, it was earned on six base hits and the righty struck out three Captains. With the win, he improves to 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA. Hillman was saddled with the loss for Lake County. Hillman falls to 01- with a 12.27 ERA.
The Captains and Loons will play game two of the three game series on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The Loons will send righty Parker Curry to the mound. The start will Curry's first of the season. The Captains will send their own righty Micah Miniard to the mound. Miniard is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
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POSTED 04/10/2017 22:31
Photo by Greg Goth
Lake County Captains left fielder Conner Capel