MWL Lake County Captains

Captains' Pitching Allows Season-High 5 Home Runs in Series-Opening Loss to TinCaps

Published on June 29, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


EASTLAKE, Ohio - In the first of a scheduled 6-game series, the Lake County Captains (0-4, 31-38) fell to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-1, 35-35) by a final score of 9-2 on Thursday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.

The Captains tied their longest losing streak of the season with their 4th consecutive defeat, as Lake County's pitching staff allowed a season-high 5 home runs.

Captains starting pitcher Parker Messick, Cleveland's No. 17 prospect according to MLB.com, made his High-A debut. After allowing just one home run in 13 starts with Single-A Lynchburg this season, the left-hander allowed 3 home runs in his first 4.1 innings of work with Lake County.

2 of Messick's 3 home runs allowed were courtesy of Fort Wayne's Graham Pauley, who hit a 3-run home run in the top of the 1st inning, and a 2-run home run in the top of the 5th inning. Jakob Marsee also hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the 3rd inning.

In all, Messick allowed career highs of 8 hits, 7 earned runs, and 3 walks (tied), while also throwing 4 strikeouts in 95 pitches (62 strikes).

After Pauley's 2nd home run of the game, Sergio Morillo entered the game in relief. On just his 2nd pitch of the night, Lucas Dunn hit Fort Wayne's 2nd consecutive home run, which made it an 8-1 game. Morillo then struck out the next 4 TinCaps hitters he faced, and 5 of the next 6. The right-hander pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing 2 hits, one earned run, and 2 walks, while throwing a season-high 5 strikeouts.

Franco Aleman then pitched a perfect 8th inning, throwing one strikeout. Soon after, Tyler Thornton entered the game to begin the 9th inning. After throwing a strikeout to start the frame, the right-hander allowed a solo home run in the ensuing at-bat, which was just his 3rd home run allowed this season. Thornton then retired the next 2 Fort Wayne hitters he faced, ending the top of the 9th inning with his 2nd strikeout of the night.

Offensively, the Captains scored one run in both the 4th and 5th innings. In the bottom of the 4th inning, a hit-by-pitch drawn by Joe Lampe, Cleveland's No. 28 prospect according to MLB.com, and a walk drawn by Justin Boyd, Cleveland's No. 26 prospect from MLB.com, put runners on 1st and 2nd base for Lake County. After Lampe stole 3rd base, Will Bartlett grounded into a force out, which allowed Lampe to score.

Then, in the bottom of the 5th inning, after a leadoff triple from Jake Fox, Cleveland's No. 8 prospect according to MLB.com, Nate Furman hit an RBI groundout for the Captains' 2nd run of the game. Fox's 2nd triple of the season, along with an infield single in the bottom of the 1st inning, extended his hitting streak to 5 games.

First pitch for tomorrow's doubleheader between the Captains and TinCaps is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 5:00 PM. It will be "Hungarian Heritage Night" at the ballpark, where there will be postgame Independence Day Fireworks presented by Discount Drug Mart following the conclusion of the doubleheader's 2nd game. Coverage of the games can be found on both the Bally Live app and MiLB.tv, as well as through @LCCaptains on Twitter and Instagram.

Check out the Lake County Captains Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from June 29, 2023


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