MWL Lake County Captains

Captains Win Back and Forth Affair over Whitecaps

June 17, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


(Eastlake, OH) - The Lake County Captains (21-18) came from behind for the third consecutive game to beat the West Michigan Whitecaps (19-19). The Captains scored three runs in the eighth inning to notch a 6-3 win on Thursday night at Classic Park.

The Captains struck quickly in the first. Brayan Rocchio hit a one-out double off Whitecaps starter Adam Wolf. José Tena came up next and chopped a ground ball to the right side. Whitecaps first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo ranged to his right and fielded the ball, but threw behind Wolf covering first. Rocchio scored to give the Captains a 1-0 lead, as the ball skipped into foul territory.

The Whitecaps tied the score with a long ball in the fifth inning. After Captains starter Logan Allen retired the first two men in the frame, Corey Joyce lifted a solo homer into the left field bleachers to even the score at 1-1.

In the top of the sixth the Whitecaps took the lead. A leadoff walk began the frame to Trei Cruz. Allen attempted to pick Cruz off first base but the ball got away down the right field line. Cruz made it all the way to third. After a soft pop out to shortstop the Captains went to the bullpen and called on Nick Gallagher. He allowed a line drive single to left field to score Cruz from Daniel Cabrera to give the Whitecaps a 2-1 advantage.

The West Michigan lead did not last long as the Captains struck back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rocchio smacked his second double of the day to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a groundout from George Valera. With two outs Aaron Bracho delivered a game tying single to tie the game 2-2.

The back and forth battle continued in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk to Wenceel Perez would come back to hurt Gallagher. Perez moved to second base on a soft groundout from Jose King. After Perez moved to first on a wild pitch Trei Cruz drew a walk to out runners on the corners. That brought Eliezer Alfonzo to the plate, where he connected for a line drive single to drive in Perez and make the score 3-2, Whitecaps.

Lake County responded in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game at 3-3. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases for the Captains with no outs. The Whitecaps called Bryce Tassin out of the bullpen to face Will Brennan. Tassin induced a ground ball to first base that Alfonzo fired home for the first out, then Cooper Johnson whipped the ball back to first for a double play. That brought Rocchio to the plate with two outs. Rocchio smacked a line drive single to right field to score Austen Wade, but Joe Donovan was cut down at the plate trying to give the Captains the lead.

For the second straight night the Captains rallied in the eighth inning to take the lead. Tena walked to begin the frame, then a one-out single from Bracho put runners on first and second. The Whitecaps went to the bullpen again, calling on Zack Hess to face Raynel Delgado. With the score tied at three, Delgado connected for a double to the left-center field gap. Tena and Bracho both scored and Delgado advanced to third on the relay home. Austen Wade capped the inning with a single to right field to bring home Delgado and give the Captains a 6-3 lead.

Nic Enright (3) worked a clean ninth to earn the save for the Captains. He struck out two and did not allow a base runner.

Jared Janczak (3-0) earned the win for the Captains after tossing a scoreless inning in relief. He struck out two Whitecaps in the eighth inning.

Bryce Tassin (0-2) took the loss for the Whitecaps. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.

Tanner Burns gets the start for the Captains in game four against the West Michigan Whitecaps. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Classic Park.

Check out the Lake County Captains Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 17, 2021


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