Captains comeback falls short in 5-4 loss

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Lake County Sentinel

Captains comeback falls short in 5-4 loss

BY TIM SHIRER

CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER

(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains returned home from a short four game road trip against the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Captains split the series. Upon returning home on Wednesday night they welcomed the Bowling Green Hot Rods to Classic Park for three game series. The Hot Rods held on to get the victory 5-4.

The Hot Rods wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with three runs in the first inning off Captains starter Alex Royalty. Royalty issued a base on balls to Hot Rods leadoff batter Ford Proctor. Proctor then moved to second on a wild pitch. Then moved to third when Royalty got Nick Schnell to ground out. Royalty then issued a base on balls to Jonathan Aranda to put men at the corners for Jordan Qsar. Qsar proceed to smack an Alex Royalty pitch over the right-center field fence for his ninth home run of the season to give Bowling Green a 3-0.

The Captains got a run back in the bottom of the first inning off Hot Rods starter Matthew Liberatore. Liberatore a lefty retired the first batter before giving up a triple to Clark Scolamiero. Scolamiero then scored when the next hitter Bo Naylor grounded out to the first baseman. The RBI by Naylor his 58th of the season cut the lead to two runs at 3-1.

The Hot Rods got the run back and increased the lead back to three runs at 4-1 when with one out in the third inning Schnell doubled to the gap in left field. He moved to third on a passed ball by Naylor and scored when Aranda singled to left field.

The Hot Rods added a fifth run in the seventh inning when Proctor singled to the pitcher, Captains reliever Luis Valdez. Valdez made errant throw to first base and Proctor ended up at third base on the play. Schnell then hit a sacrifice-fly to center field and Proctor trotted home giving the Hot Rods a 5-2.

The Captains cut the lead to two runs in the fifth inning. Raynel Delgado singled to lead off the inning. After Ulysses Cantu struck out swinging Billy Wilson doubled to left field driving home Delgado with the Captains second run.

The Captains were not going away as they cut the lead to one run in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runs. With one out in the inning Delgado reached on a throwing error by Proctor. Cantu then drew a base on balls. Wilson then grounded into a fielder’s choice and Cantu was thrown out at second base. With runners on the corners Makesiondon Kelkboom doubled down the left field line driving home Delgado and Wilson to pull the Captains to within one run at 5-4.

Hot Rods reliever Chris Muller picked up the win and improves to 2-4 with a 3.15 ERA. Joel Peguero picked up the save, his 13th of the season. Royalty took the loss for Lake County and falls to 5-8 with a 4.47 ERA.

The two clubs will play game two on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The Hot Rods have not announced a pitcher for the contest. Righthander Shane McCarthy will take the mound for Lake County. McCarthy is 4-3 with 4.01 ERA.