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MWL1 Lake County Captains

First Inning Back-To-Back Homers Propel Captains

June 14, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lake County Captains News Release


(Bowling Green, KY) - Francisco Mejia and Connor Marabell jump started the Lake County Captains' offense with back-to-back home runs in the first inning and the early offense proved to be enough. Lake County toppled the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Bowling Green Ballpark on Monday night, 7-2.

The Captains scored five runs in the first two innings, all with two outs. Tyler Krieger gave the Captains their first hit of the night with a single in the first inning, thus extending his hitting streak to 23 games. Mejia followed immediately with a home run to right field to give Lake County a 2-0 lead. Marabell then drilled a homer to right to put Lake County ahead by three runs.

In the second, the Captains again rallied with two retired. With two outs and a runner on first, Nathan Lukes singled to keep the inning alive and Willi Castro delivered Lake County's next big blow. Castro yanked a triple down the right field line that scored two runs and gave the Captains a 5-0 advantage.

The Lake County offense stalled after its quick start, but starting pitcher Sam Hentges kept the Hot Rods off the scoreboard. The left-hander tossed five shutout innings and struck out eight batters for the third time this season. Hentges (2-4) only gave up two hits, walked two men and hit a batter en route to the win.

Bowling Green picked up a couple of runs against the Captains' bullpen. Kevin Padlo hit an RBI double off of Brock Hartson in the sixth, but the Captains quickly answered with a run in the seventh. Lake County loaded the bases and Bobby Ison scored when Krieger hit into a double play. Though the Captains only got one run out of the rally, they regained their five-run lead at 6-1.

Bowling Green scored again against Hartson in the eighth. Joe McCarthy hit a one-out double and Hartson walked Padlo. After the free pass, David Rodriguez drove home McCarthy with a double. Billy Strode, however, came out of the Lake County bullpen and got the Captains out of the jam. He retired the last two men in the eighth to leave runners on second and third and keep the Captains ahead, 6-2.

Lake County pounced on a Bowling Green error in the ninth to add one more insurance run. Ison led off the inning with a fly ball to the wall in right field, but Manny Sanchez dropped the ball and Ison raced to third base on the error. Lukes then lined a ball to Sanchez and Ison tagged up from third. Sanchez's throw sailed high and Ison was able to slide in under the tag of the catcher, Rodriguez. Lake County took a 7-2 lead on the sacrifice fly.

Strode took care of the ninth inning without issue and picked up his second save of the season. The lefty pitched a one-two-three final frame, ultimately getting Jake Croneworth to line out to Ison in left to end the game.

Hot Rods starter Roel Ramirez suffered the loss. Ramirez (2-5) allowed five runs over six innings. He gave up eight hits, including the Captains' two homers, and struck out five men.

The Captains have won back-to-back games and remain in second place in the Eastern Division. Lake County will face Bowling Green again on Tuesday night at Bowling Green Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 PM ET.

Individual game tickets are on sale at the Classic Park box office, online at captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Full season tickets plans, 12-, 20-, and 35-game mini ticket plans for the 2016 season are on sale now at great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 14, 2016


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