Captains snap skid, hold off Whitecaps 6-4

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Lake County Sentinel

Captains snap skid, hold off Whitecaps 6-4

BY TIM SHIRER

CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER

(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains returned home on Saturday night to open a three-game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Captains limped home losing five of seven on the road trip, including losing their final three being swept by the Great Lakes Loons. Saturday night was a better night as the Captains defeated the Whitecaps 6-4 in front of a nice crowd of 6,207 at Classic Park.

The Captains got on the board first in the second inning with two runs. With one out in the inning Daniel Schneemann singled. After Miguel Jerez struck out Connor Smith tripled to right field and Schneemann scored the first run of the game. Eric Rodriguez and Quentin Holmes both drew base on balls loading the bases. West Michigan starting pitcher Jesus Rodriguez was then removed due to an unknown injury. He was replaced by Zac Shepherd. Shepherd proceeded to issue a base on balls to Clark Scolamiero and Smith trotted home with the Captains second run.

The Whitecaps took the lead in the fourth inning with three runs off Captains starter Alex Royalty. The fourth was Royalty’s final inning of work. In his four innings he gave up the three runs, all earned on four hits, he issued three base on balls and struck out three.

The Captains regained the lead in the fifth inning with three runs. They got three straight hits by Jose Fermin, Bo Naylor and the third hit was the big blow as Jonathan Engelmann belted a double to left field scoring both Fermin and Naylor. After Michael Bienlien replaced Shepherd, Bienlien retired the next two hitters and Engelmann moved to third base. Engelmann then scored when Smith smacked a double to the center field gap, giving Lake County a 5-3 lead.

The Whitecaps scored their fourth run in the sixth inning when Dayton Dugas led the inning off with a single and later scored on a wild pitch by Tim Herrin who came in relief of Luis Araujo. The pitch was Herrin’s fifth and pulled the Whitecaps to within one run at 5-4.

The Captains added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Engelmann led off the inning with a single, stole second base, his fourth stolen base of the season and then scored two batters later when Smith singled to left field increasing the Captains lead to 6-4.

Araujo picked up the win for the Captains. He went one and one thirds innings allowing one run, it was earned on three hits. He issued one base on balls and struck out one hitter. With the win the righty improves to 3-4 with a 4.30 ERA. Jake Miednik picked up the save for Lake County, it was his second of the season. Shepherd took the loss for Whitecaps and falls to 0-1 with a 11.57 ERA.

The Captains and Whitecaps will play game two of the three game series on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. Righthander Brad Bass will take the mound for the Whitecaps. Bass is 3-3 with a 2.57 ERA. Lefty Zach Draper will tow the rubber for the Captains. Draper enters the game 7-2 with a 2.71 ERA.