Captains shut out TinCaps 3-0 in home debut

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Captains shut out TinCaps 3-0 in home debut

BY TIM SHIRER

CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER

(EASTLAKE, OH) – Tuesday was opening night at Classic Park. It had been 615 days since the Lake County Captains played at home. The wait was worth it as the Captains came away with the win 3-0.

The 2,473 fans in attendance were treated to a good old fashion pitchers duel. The Captains sent righthander Hunter Gaddis to the mound. Gaddis was a fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2019. The lanky righthander was unhittable as he pitched five hitless innings, facing the minimum of 15 hitters. The only blemish was when he hit TinCaps leadoff man Jawuan Harris with a pitch in the first inning. Harris then stole second base but was picked off second base by Gaddis for second out of the inning. In his five innings he stuck out six TinCaps hitters. It was a nice bounce back out for Gaddis, in hist first start of the season on May 4th he allowed seven runs four earned in three innings.

Lefty Ethan Elliott made the start for the TinCaps. Elliott went five innings allowing only one run, it was earned on two hits. He also issued one base on balls and also struck out six batters.

The only run that Elliott allowed came on a home run of the bat of Captains first baseman Joe Naranjo. It was his first home run of the season and probably a home run he will remember as today is his 20th birthday.

The Captains scored a second run in the bottom of the seventh inning when George Valera singled to lead off the inning. Valera was signed by the Indians as a non-drafted free agent in 2017. Valera is one of the Indians higher prospects at number three according to Indians Baseball Insider. Valera then stole second base. After Aaron Bracho struck out Valera stole third base, his third theft of the season with Raynel Delgado at the plate. After Delgado struck out Jose Tena, another undrafted 2017 free agent singled on a hard line drive to center field and Valera crossed the plate with the Captains second run giving Lake County a 2-0 lead. Tena then stole second base, his second of the season. The Captains could do no more damage as the inning ended when Naranjo grounded out to first base to end the threat.

The final run of the game came with one out in the inning and Brayan Rocchio singled to center field. Rocchio then stole his third bag of the season as he slid into second base. Rocchio wasted no time scoring as Will Brennan, eighth round pick by the Indians in 2019 singled to right field driving home Rocchio and increased the lead to 3-0. The inning continued with Bryan Lavastida at the plate and Brennan stole second base, which was his second of the year. The Captains could do no further damage in the inning as the TinCaps got a strike out and fly ball to end the inning with Lake County on top 3-0.

Gaddis got the win for Lake County. With the win he improves 1-1 on the year with a 4.50 ERA. Elliott took the loss for the TinCaps and falls to 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

With the win the Captains improve to 1-0 at home and 4-3 overall.

The two teams will play game two of the six game series on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Classic Park. The TinCaps will send righthander Anderson Espinoza to the hill. Espinoza is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Lefty Logan Allen will be on the mound for the Captains. Allen is with a 1-0, 0.00 ERA.