NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Captains Earn Season-High Fifth Straight Win

July 12, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1) - Lake County Captains News Release


(Peoria, IL) - The Lake County Captains (11-10, 40-51) have rattled off a season-high five consecutive wins and they have their starting pitching to thank. For the second night in a row, Lake County's starter went seven innings and held the Peoria Chiefs (10-9, 49-40) to just one run. On Thursday night at Dozer Park, Jean Carlos Mejia baffled the Chiefs and led the Captains to a 6-1 victory.

Mejia was incredibly efficient early on. The right-hander needed just 30 pitches to get through the first four innings, during which he allowed one hit and faced the minimum, thanks to a double play ball in the second. During that stretch, Mejia also threw just six balls.

While Mejia was dealing, the Captains provided early run support. Todd Isaacs reached on the first pitch of the game when third baseman Elehuris Montero botched a grounder. Chiefs starter Alex Fagalde later walked Nolan Jones with two outs and Jose Vicente cracked a two-run triple off the centerfield wall to give Lake County a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, a leadoff walk led to another rally. Fagalde walked Will Benson to begin the frame and, after Benson swiped second, Josh Rolette hit an automatic double that bounced over the wall in left-center. Benson scored to give the Captains a 3-0 advantage. J.J. Berardi then singled to center and Rolette scored to push the lead to 4-0.

Peoria threatened for the first time in the fifth, but Mejia kept the Chiefs off the scoreboard. Yariel Gonzalez and Wood Myers began the frame with back-to-back singles, but Mejia followed with back-to-back strikeouts. Alexis Wilson then hit a single through the left side, but a strong throw by Oscar Gonzalez forced Yariel Gonzalez to hold up at third. Mejia then got Rayder Ascanio to pop out to right and end the inning.

Mejia escaped another jam in the sixth. Nick Plummer singled to begin the inning and Montero singled with one out. Mejia then got his second double play of the ballgame, as Gonzalez bounced a ball to shortstop Elvis Perez who stepped on second and fired to first to end the frame.

The Captains added two more runs in the seventh, partially thanks to a pair of Peoria errors. Berardi walked to begin the frame, stole second and advanced to third when Wilson's throw skipped into center. Isaacs then grounded a single into left to score Berardi. Perez came up next and hit a bouncer to second base, but Irving Lopez's throw to second sailed into left field and Isaacs advanced all the way to third. Gonzalez then hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Isaacs and give Lake County a 6-0 lead.

The Chiefs scored their only run in the seventh. Myers began the inning with a single and Mejia balked him to second base. J.R. Davis then came through with a double to right that plated Myers.

Mejia (2-3) earned the win after pitching a career-high seven innings and giving up just one run. The right-hander allowed eight hits, seven of which were singles, struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Fagalde (4-3) took the loss. He pitched five innings and surrendered four runs - two earned - on four hits and three walks. Fagalde struck out five.

The Captains' season-long five-game winning streak also gives them their first back-to-back series wins of the year and their first above-.500 record of the second half. Lake County vaults into a three-way tie for the Eastern Division Wild Card, drawing even with the South Bend Cubs and remaining even with the West Michigan Whitecaps. All three teams trail the Fort Wayne TinCaps by one game for the division's top second-half playoff spot.

Lake County will go for the series sweep on Friday night. The series finale is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at Dozer Park.

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.


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

Midwest League Stories from July 12, 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