Lake County Sentinel
Captains torch the Dragons 10-1
TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
The Lake County Captains returned home on Friday night to take on the Dayton Dragons (Reds) for the first four games of a seven-game home stand. The two teams have struggled in the second half with a combined record of 39-67. Thing went well for the Captains and the 8,496 in attendance as they torched the Dragons 10-1.
The Captains struck early with a run in the first inning off Dayton starter Andrew Jordan. The run came when Captains center fielder Conner Capel blasted his twentieth home run of the season over the center field wall. The ball left the park at 106 mph and landed 443 from home plate giving Lake County an early 1-0 lead.
The second inning was five times worse for Jordan as the Captains scored five runs. The inning began when Jordan hit Emmanuel Tapia with a pitch. Miguel Eladio then singled. With Jose Vincente who was just activated at the plate Dayton catcher Mitch Trees was charged with a passed ball and Tapia and Eladio moved to second and third base. Vincente then singled and Tapia scored, putting men at first and third. Jorma Rodriguez then drew a base on balls to load the bases. Todd Isaacs grounded into a fielder's choice and Eladio was retired at home, the bases remained loaded. After Luke Wakamatsu was retired on strikes, Capel smacked a ball to center field clearing the base and giving the Captains a 5-0 lead. Then with Mitch Longo at the plate Capel steals third base, his 14th steal of the season. Longo then came through with a single to left field and Capel crossed the plate with the Captains 6-0.
Lake County quickly put two more runs on the board in the fifth inning when Longo singled off Alex Webb to lead off the inning. Webb replaced Jordan who pitched four innings. Li-Jen Chu followed Longo and blasted his 14th home run of the season, giving the Captains an 8-0 lead.
The Captains added their final two runs in the eighth inning when Eladio singled to lead off the inning and Vincente belted his fourth home run of the year to give Lake County a 10-0 lead.
The Dragons scored a single run in the ninth inning to avoid the shut out.
Zach Plesac started for Lake County and earned the win. In his five innings of shutout work Plesac allowed just one hit, one base on balls and struck out four. The win was Plesac's first and he improves to 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Jordan took the loss for the Dragons. The Dayton starter went four innings allowing six runs, all earned on seven hits, he issued two base on balls and struck five Captains. With the loss Jordan falls to 5-8 with a 4.90 ERA.
The Captains and Dragons will play game two of the series on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Righty Matt Blandino will take the hill for the Dragons. Blandino is 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA. Luis Jimenez will make the start for Lake County. Jimenez, also a righthander is 2-7 with a 6.12 ERA
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @IndiansTim Check out our IndiansNation fan Page
POSTED 08/18/2017 22:25
Lake County Captains center fielder Conner Capel. Photo by Greg Goth
