Lake County Sentinel
Captains offensive struggles continue, shut out by Dragons 3-0
BY TIM SHIRER
CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER
(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains and Dayton Dragons opened a four-game series on Saturday night. The Captains were attempting to right the ship after getting swept by the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the first three games of the current seven game homestand. The Captains off apparently did not realize the series had begun as the Dragons notched a 3-0 shut out sending the 7,191 fans in attendance home unhappy.
The Dragons got on the board in the third inning off Captains starter Ethan Hankins. Hankins allowed a leadoff single to Juan Martinez. He followed that up by allowing a home run over the right-center field fence to Matt Lloyd. The home run for Lloyd was his second of the season and gave the Dragons a 2-0 lead. The damage in the inning was not done. After Hankins retired the next two hitters on a flyball and strikeout he allowed a solo home run to Ernesto Liberatore. The home run for Liberatore was his first of the campaign and extended the lead to 3-0.
Meanwhile Dayton starter Adrian Rodriguez was dealing, and the Captains hitters could not catch up. Rodriguez a righthander went seven innings allowing just one hit, two base on balls and struck out five Lake County hitters. The Captains offense has gone cold. Over the last 21 innings the Captains have scored two runs and been shut out in the last 14 frames. In the last 27 innings they have only scored in two frames.
Rodriguez picked up the win for the Dragons and improves to 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA. Matt Pidich pitched the ninth inning and picked up his sixth save of the season. Hankins took the loss for the Captains. The big righthander went four and two thirds innings allowing three runs, all earned on seven hits. He also struck out six Dragons. With the loss Hankins falls to 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA.
The two clubs will play the second game of the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Lyon Richardson will be on the mound for the Dragons. Richardson a righty enters the game 3-9 with a 4.30 ERA. Lefty Eli Lingos will tow the rubber for the Captains. The southpaw enters the game 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA.
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Tim on Twitter @IndiansTim Check out our IndiansNation fan Page
POSTED 08/24/2019 22:03
