Hawks Scuttle Captains on Late Inning Error to the Starboard Side

April 25, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


The South Bend Silver Hawks triumphed in a classic pitchers' duel Friday night at Four Winds Field. With both sides shutting down any offense throughout, it was the Lake County Captains who finally blinked, giving up the game's only run on a throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the win, the Silver Hawks (13-8), the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, moved within half a game of first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division.

Silver Hawks starting pitcher Blake Perry turned in a stellar performance, taking a no hitter through six and two-thirds innings. With one out in the top of the seventh, Lake County designated hitter Anthony Santander dropped a soft fly ball just out of reach of Hawks right fielder Zach Esquerra. Before giving up the hit, Perry had retired thirteen Captains in a row. Altogether Perry struck out six and walked three.

Following Esquerra's single, Perry walked Lake County shortstop Paul Hendrix. Having thrown 99 pitches, Perry's night came to an end. He was replaced on the mound by new arrival Silvino Bracho (W, 1-0). Bracho raised the tension by walking his first batter, left fielder Brian Ruiz, to load the bases. Bracho quickly worked out of the jam by inducing a fly ball out from right fielder Cody Ferrell.

Lake County pitcher Luis Lugo nearly matched Perry's performance. Lugo pitched six innings, giving up only two hits. Daniel Palka led off the Hawks half of the second inning with a quirky double. Captains second baseman Claudio Bautista dove at Palka's sharply hit ground ball, but was unable to corral the ball. As Ferrell was retrieving the ball in right field, Palka snuck on to second base. In the third inning, South Bend center fielder Breland Almadova reached on a bunt single down the third base line. The Silver Hawks were unable to capitalize on their early opportunities. In his six innings Lugo struck out six Hawks and walked one.

The breakthrough finally came in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Silver Hawks put up the game's lone run against Captains reliever Robbie Aviles (L, 0-1). Aviles started the inning by hitting Esquerra with a pitch. With Esquerra on first, Almadova was unable to get down a sacrifice bunt attempt, popping it up to first baseman Nellie Rodriguez. Shortstop Andrew Velazquez came up next, grounding out to second base, but moving up Esquerra. It looked like the inning would come to an end when second baseman Jamie Westbrook sent a grounder to Hendrix at shortstop. Hendrix fielded the ball, but his throw sailed wide of the first baseman and into the South Bend dugout. When the dust settled, Westbrook ended up on second base and Esquerra crossed the plate. Left fielder Stryker Trahan grounded out to end the eighth.

The sole, unearned run was all the Hawks needed, as closer JR Bradley (S, 3) shut the door on the Captains in the ninth. Bradley needed only 17 pitches to strike out the side, fanning third baseman Grant Fink, Rodriguez and Santander in short order.

The Lake County Captains, the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and the South Bend Silver Hawks will be back in action on Saturday at Four Winds Field for game 2 of the 3 game series. Dace Kime (0-3, 11.30 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Captains, while Ben Eckels (1-2, 8.49 ERA) gets the start for the Hawks. Saturday at Four Winds Field is packed full of promotions. The first 750 fans will receive a Silver Hawks fleece blanket presented by Melrose Pyrotechnics. It's also Flat Screen Saturday. Every inning a 39" flat screen will be given away thanks to hh gregg. Gallo Barefoot Wine will also present free wine tastings. So get to the park early for all the excitement.



Midwest League Stories from April 25, 2014


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