Captains win sloppy affair 6-5
BY JUSTIN LADA
SENIOR WRITER
The Lake County Captains were stymied by Lansing’s stud LHP Angel Perdomo for 6-plus innings as they trailed 5-1 at the time of his exit with two runners on the bases being tied to his final line. The Captains plated two more runs that were ultimately charged to Perdomo, who came into the game third in the Midwest League in ERA (1.28). Captains reliever Dominic DeMasi held down the fort until the Captains struck for three more in the eighth for a 6-5 victory.
Breakthrough
DH Martin Cervenka had the big blow of the night; a bases clearing double with no-outs in the bottom of the eighth that put the Captains ahead for good, 6-5. He also doubled in the Captains third and final run in the sixth inning to cut the gap to 5-3.
With the hits, Cervenka has a nine game hitting streak.
The ‘P’ Word
The Captains previously spent 40 days in first place this season before slipping the last few weeks, The win over Lansing has them ½ out first place again and would put them in the playoffs if the season ended today. The team is cognizant of the standings with 10 games to play in the first half. While development always takes precedence in the minors, the experience of the playoffs and a playoff chase is also important to development.
Mejia on the playoff race: “First place, always. (Is the goal). We’re confident. We want to make it to the playoffs.”
Speaking streak
Francisco Mejia doesn’t have Cervenka’s nine game hitting streak but has nine hits in his last 12 at bats after his 4-4 performance with a double and an RBI in the win over Lansing. His confidence after being an All-Star for the second straight year in the Midwest League and getting comfortable, is allowing him to take off.
“I’m very happy about that,” Mejia said of being named an All-Star. “I’m more comfortable this year. I understand more english and the cultures. It helps a lot.”
On the bump
Captains starter Matt Esparza wasn’t as sharp as he has been most of the season. While his two-seamer was sitting around 92-93, it ate too much of the plate at times and was hit hard when it did. More often than normal, anyway. His curveball was especially effective in his five strikeouts in six innings of work. It induced a lot of bad swings and swings at balls in the dirt.
Dating back to May 12, Lugnuts starter Angel Perdomo had allowed just one run in 26 innings spanning five starts. He was tagged with three on the night. The Captains finally got to him in the sixth inning and finished it out against what Captains manager Tony Mansolino called a tired bullpen.
Up next
The Captains start a series with Great Lakes coming to town Friday June 10 at 7 p.m. Shao-Ching Chang is the Captains scheduled starter. Great Lakes is TBD.
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POSTED 06/10/2016 00:30
Lake County Sentinel
