
Captains No-Hit by Loons
July 23, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release
(Eastlake, OH) - The Lake County Captains (37-33) were no-hit by the Great Loons (39-31) in a 14-0 loss on Friday night at Classic Park. It was the first no-hitter in Loons franchise history.
Daniel Espino's Classic Park debut got off to a rocky start in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff walk to Ryan Ward, Espino induced a flyout to left by Carson Taylor. With one out Brandon Lewis belted a two-run home run to put the Loons on top 2-0 after the first inning.
The Loons tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth. Jonny DeLuca hit the first pitch of the inning over the left-center field wall. Angy Pages followed with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Zac Ching double down the right field line to give Great Lakes a 4-0 lead.
In the seventh the Loons loaded the bases with nobody out after a Deacon Liput double, a Ching walk and a Ward single. Reliever Nick Gallagher struck out Taylor looking for the first out. Then Lewis hit a slow ground ball to second base. The Captains were a split second late, turning two after forcing Ward out at second, and Liput scored from third to extend the Loons lead to 5-0.
With one out in the eighth inning Pages walked to start another rally for the Loons. Vranesh singled to put runners on first and second. Liput bounced into a fielders' choice that forced out Vranesh but moved Pages to third. A wild pitch issued by Gallagher allowed Pages to score and moved Liput to second. Ching singled up the middle to drive in Liput with two outs to add another run for Great Lakes. The Captains went to the bullpen and called on Kellen Rholl to face the lefty Ryan Ward. But Ward doubled down the left field line to chase Ching home and make the score 8-0, Loons.
The Loons batted around in the ninth to add six runs and make the score 14-0. After two singles and a walk Liput singled in the first run of the frame for the Loons. With the bases still loaded and two outs in the inning Ward reached base on a catcher's interference to push home a second tally. That brought Carson Taylor to the plate and he delivered the final blow with a grand slam to the bleachers in left field.
Bobby Miller (2-2) earned the win for the Loons out of the bullpen. He struck out seven Captains, while issuing one walk in five hitless innings.
Espino (0-2) took the loss in his home debut. He allowed four runs in five innings on the mound with two walks and four strikeouts.
Hunter Gaddis gets the ball on the mound for the Captains on Saturday. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Classic Park.
Midwest League Stories from July 23, 2021
- Wisconsin Stuns South Bend with an Eight-Run Eighth Inning - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- History: First Loons No-Hitter Comes After 15 Years - Great Lakes Loons
- Whitecaps Walk Away with 6-5 Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- South Bend's Comeback Attempt Falls Short - South Bend Cubs
- TinCaps Win Third In A Row, Fifth Victory in Last Six - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Five-Run Whitecaps 6th Sinks Lugnuts, 6-5 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Captains No-Hit by Loons - Lake County Captains
- Kernels Win Another Close Contest - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- River Bandits Runless in Second-Straight Loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Blank First-Place Quad Cities Friday - Peoria Chiefs
- Snappers Play Fifth Straight One Run Game, Fall 2-1 To Kernels - Beloit Sky Carp
- Fort Wayne Tops Dragons 7-3 on Friday Night - Dayton Dragons
- 260 to Tokyo - Former Players Competing in the Olympics - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Homestand Highlights: July 27-August 1 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps Game Information: July 23 vs. Dayton - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons Game Notes for Friday - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Hold off Furious Rally to Down River Bandits - Peoria Chiefs
- Captains Fall in Extras Despite Farhat's Clutch Home Run - Lake County Captains
- Cubs Reclaim Series Lead with 6-4 Win - South Bend Cubs
- Kareem Hunt Added to Cleveland Sports History Night Guest List - Lake County Captains
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Other Recent Lake County Captains Stories
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- West Michigan's Five-Run Stretch Defeats Captains, 8-4
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