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Lake County Captains

Cairo Crushes in One-Run Loss at South Bend

September 3, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


(South Bend, IN) - A big game by Christian Cairo was not enough for the Lake County Captains (57-49) on Friday night at Four Winds Field. Max Bain dominated on the mound for the South Bend Cubs (47-58) in a 5-4 loss for the Captains.

In the top of the first inning, Cairo led off with a double to left center for the Captains. He advanced to third on a passed ball. With two outs Micah Pries delivered the RBI knock for the Captains by punching a double down the left field line to plate Cairo and put Lake County ahead 1-0.

The Cubs tied the score in the fourth. Alexander Canario singled with two outs and stole second. Bryce Ball knocked in Canario with a single to left to even the score at 1-1.

South Bend took the lead in the fifth. After Pablo Aliendo hit a one-out single through the left side, Scott McKeon singled to center and the ball bounced off

Quentin Holmes' glove for an error to put men on second and third. Two batters later Yohendrick Piñango chopped a two-run single through the left side to put the Cubs in front, 3-1.

The Cubs extended their lead in the sixth. Bryce Ball led off the inning with a solo homer to right-center to give South Bend a 4-1 advantage.

With two outs in the top of the eighth the Captains got a spark from Cairo on a solo home run to left field to bring Lake County within two, trailing the Cubs 4-2.

A two out rally in the ninth helped the Cubs answer back. Ball drew a two-out walk and Jake Slaughter singled. With runners on first and second Yonathan Perlaza hit a bloop single to center field that brought Ball home to give South Bend a 5-2 lead.

Lake County did not go down easily in the ninth inning. Johnathan Rodriguez and Aaron Bracho both walked to start the frame. Julian Escobedo hit a soft line drive that was fielded at shortstop by Vazquez on one hop. He chased Rodriguez to third to get the lead runner for the first out, but Bracho reached second and Escobedo was safe at first. Next up was pinch hitter Joe Naranjo who hit a line drive to right center that drove in Bracho to make the score 5-3. After a Holmes strikeout, the Cubs catcher Aliendo fired to third base, trying to pick off Escobedo with Cairo at the plate. The throw sailed into left field, which allowed Escobedo to race home and moved Naranjo up to second, bringing the score to 5-4. With the tying run on second, Cairo struck out to end the game and the Captains' ninth inning rally came up just short.

Bain (4-8) hurled six innings and allowed just one run to earn the win. He struck out eight with three hits allowed and no walks.

Hunter Gaddis (4-9) took the loss after allowing four runs over 5.2 innings. He matched his career high with 10 strikeouts, but allowed four runs on 10 hits.

Eduarniel Nuñez (4) tossed the ninth inning for the Cubs to earn the save. He allowed two runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two.

Daniel Espino is on the mound on Saturday for game five of the six game series. First pitch between the Captains and Cubs is set for 7:05 at Four Winds Field.

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