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MWL Lake County Captains

Hajjar's Heroic Start Pushes Captains to Series-Opening Victory Over Peoria

August 17, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


EASTLAKE, Ohio - In Game 1 of a series-opening doubleheader, the Lake County Captains (20-21, 50-55) defeated the Peoria Chiefs (25-18, 58-51) by a final score of 5-1 in 7 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.

This marks Lake County's third consecutive victory, and fifth in their last six games.

Steve Hajjar (2-3) had arguably the best start of his High-A career. The left-hander tied his Minor League career-high of 6 innings pitched, allowing just 2 hits, one earned run, and 3 walks, while throwing 8 strikeouts, his most in a High-A game, in 88 pitches (55 strikes).

After retiring the first 7 Peoria hitters in order, Hajjar permitted his first baserunner with a walk drawn by the Chiefs' Tyler Reichenborn in the top of the 3rd inning. However, Captains catcher Cooper Ingle caught Reichenborn stealing 2nd base, his first time catching a runner stealing in his professional career.

Hajjar allowed his only 2 hits of the game in the top of the 4th inning. Peoria recorded their first hit of the afternoon when R.J. Yeager hit a solo home run to put the Chiefs ahead 1-0. This was immediately followed by a double from Peoria's Jimmy Crooks, who was soon stranded on 2nd base.

Despite issuing 2 consecutive walks in the top of the 5th inning, Hajjar managed to retire the final 5 Chiefs hitters he faced in order. Shawn Rapp then pitched a perfect top of the 7th inning to seal Lake County's victory.

The Captains did not record a hit until the bottom of the 3rd inning, when Chase DeLauter, Cleveland's No. 4 and MLB's No. 90 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, hit a two-out infield single to extend his hitting streak to 7 games. One inning later, Lake County tied the game with a two-out sacrifice fly from Will Bartlett, which made the score 1-1.

In the top of the 5th inning, back-to-back singles from DeLauter and Kahlil Watson, Cleveland's No. 16 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, put runners on 1st and 3rd base for the Captains.

DeLauter then scored, giving Lake County their first run of the lead at 2-1, when Dayan Frias, Cleveland's No. 25 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, struck out swinging and reached base on a wild pitch. In the ensuing at-bat, Cooper Ingle also struck out swinging, but Watson scored on another wild pitch. Joe Lampe then hit an RBI single to give the Captains a 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, Jake Fox, Cleveland's No. 12 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, drove home another run for Lake County with a two-out RBI triple, which made the score 5-1.

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