NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Lake County Captains

Benson Blasts off in 10-5 Loss to Wisconsin

May 1, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lake County Captains News Release


(Eastlake, OH) - The fifth inning belonged to the Lake County Captains (11-12) on Tuesday night. Unfortunately for Lake County, the rest of the game belonged to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (8-16). The Captains scored five runs in the fifth, capped by a three-run shot over the centerfield batter's eye by Will Benson, but Lake County fell to the Timber Rattlers at Classic Park, 10-5.

Wisconsin went into attack mode early against Captains starter Francisco Perez. In the first, the Timber Rattlers scored two runs on three hits, including a pair of doubles. Demi Orimoloye plated the first run when he hit a high chopper to third base and legged out an infield single that scored Zach Clark. The next batter, Gabriel Garcia, began what turned out to be a busy day at the plate with an RBI double to give Wisconsin a 2-0 lead.

The Timber Rattlers really piled on in the third. Wisconsin scored five runs on five hits and a walk, highlighted by Nick Roscetti's three-run triple. Garcia and Clark also drove in runs with singles to give the Timber Rattlers a 7-0 lead.

Perez remained in the game in the fourth, but could not record an out. The lefty walked Pat McInerney to lead off the frame, gave up a single to Orimoloye and walked Garcia to load the bases. James Karinchak came in to relieve Perez with the bases loaded, but the right-hander allowed two of the runners to score. Jay Feliciano, the first man to face Karinchak, hit a high bouncer to shortstop and Ernie Clement made a heads-up defensive play. Clement leaped to snag the hopper and fired to third before his feet touched the ground to force out Orimoloye, but McInerney came home on the fielder's choice. Payton Henry, who had perhaps the biggest day for the Wisconsin offense, singled home Garcia later in the inning.

The fourth inning could have really gotten out of hand if not for another sterling defensive play by Clement. With the bases loaded and one out, Roscetti hit a high bouncer up the middle. Karinchak leaped, but could not get his glove on the ball. Clement, meanwhile, slid behind the bag at second and fielded the ball in his midsection. In one motion and in mid-slide, Clement shoveled the ball to second baseman Jorma Rodriguez who turned the inning-ending double play.

The Lake County offense finally broke out of its slumber in the fifth. The rally was keyed initially by a Wisconsin error. Jose Vicente led off and hit a towering pop up near the mound. Garcia came in from third to make the catch, but dropped the ball and Vicente reached first on the error. Garcia made up for the dropped pop up by robbing the next batter, Todd Isaacs, of an extra-base hit with a diving play, but the Captains' rally continued. Clement singled for his third of four hits on the night and Vicente came home to score on a wild pitch. Rodriguez later drove home Clement with an RBI single to center. After Nolan Jones walked, Benson came up with two men on base and the Captains trailing by seven runs. The left-handed hitter blasted a fly ball that cleared the batter's eye beyond centerfield for a three-run homer. Benson's fifth home run of the year tied McInerney for the Midwest League lead and trimmed Wisconsin's lead to 9-5.

The Captains' offense stalled after the monster fifth. Rodrigo Benoit pitched the final 3.1 innings without allowing a run to pick up his first save of the year and the Timber Rattlers added an insurance tally on an opposite field home run to right field by Henry in the seventh. Dylan File picked up the win as the starter. File (3-1) pitched 5.2 innings and allowed all five Captains runs, but none of them were earned because of the error. He gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

Perez (1-1) took the loss for the Captains. One start after helping the Captains secure their fourth no-hitter in team history, Perez allowed nine runs in three innings. The lefty gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out four.

Garcia and Henry led the Wisconsin offense. Garcia reached base five times on an RBI double, an RBI single, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He also scored two runs and stole a base. Henry finished a triple shy of the cycle with a double, two singles and a solo homer. He went 4-for-5 with two RBI.

Clement turned in a strong day in the loss. In addition to his fine defense, the Captains' shortstop went 4-for-5 from the leadoff spot with a pair of doubles, two singles and a run scored. Clement extended his on-base streak to 15 consecutive games in the process.

The Captains have lost three in a row and will try to end the skid on Wednesday morning when they face Wisconsin in the second game of a three-game series. First pitch at Classic Park is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Information about Classic Park or the Captains can be found online at www.captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Affordable ticket packages and group party and picnic options are available now.

Check out the Lake County Captains Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...

Midwest League Stories from May 1, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central