Laffey tosses gem, but Captains blanked 1-0

July 7, 2005 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lake County Captains News Release

(Eastlake, OH)--Captains lefthander Aaron Laffey tossed the first complete-game of his young career Thursday, but suffered a hard-luck loss in a 1-0 setback against the Delmarva Shorebirds at Classic Park.

Laffey became the first Captains pitcher to work a nine-inning complete game this season. He held the Shorebirds to just three hits, while walking only one and striking out three. He threw 88 pitches in the game. In his last two starts, Laffey has given up just seven hits and one earned run in 16 innings of work.

The Shorebirds reached Laffey for an unearned run in the sixth inning for the game's only tally. Eric Grimm reached on an error by third baseman Matt Whitney, and moved up on a bunt single by Quincy Ascencion. After Laffey balked the runners to second and third, Gary Cates rolled a grounder to shoirt that scored Grimm for a 1-0 lead.

After the run in the sixth, Laffey retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced.

Delmarva starter Luis Ramirez (5-4) was equally impressive. Coming off a complete-game shutout of West Virginia in his last start, Ramirez worked eight shutout innings Thursday, limiting the Captains to only a first-inning single by Matt Whitney. Ramirez, who has lost to the Captains three times this year, walked one and struck out four. He retired the last 10 batters he faced before giving way to Casey Cahill in the ninth. Cahill worked around a two-out single by Brian Finegan to post his second save.

It was the ninth straight win for the first-place Shorebirds (11-3, 41-43) who now lead the Captains by four games in the SAL North.

The Captains were shutout for the fifth time this season, and the first since June 2nd at Lexington.

The Captains (7-7, 47-37) will play Delmarva in game two of the series Friday night at 7:00 (WELW AM 1330, Adelphia 15).

South Atlantic League Stories from July 7, 2005

• I's Win fifth Straight - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Ramirez silences Captains bats, 'Birds win ninth straight, 1-0 - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Braves Beat Bombers, 3-2 - Rome Emperors
• Suns win over Power, 7-1 - Hagerstown Suns
• BlueClaws fall to Legends in series opener - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Laffey tosses gem, but Captains blanked 1-0 - Lake County Captains
• Legends trip up Lakewood - Lexington Legends
• Power lose to Suns in rain-shortened game - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Game vs. Hickory Back On - Columbus Catfish
• Legends offer a promotion to die for - Lexington Legends
• Jordan joins Bombers - Greenville Drive
• Hughes promoted to Class-A Tampa - Charleston RiverDogs
• Catfish Game in Hickory Postponed - Columbus Catfish
• Suns home for two - Hagerstown Suns
• Jenkins joins 'Hoppers - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Gnats shortstop Desmond promoted to Potomac - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Suns announce "Wing Fling 2005" - Hagerstown Suns
• BlueClaws Return Home July 12 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws

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