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MWL Lake County Captains

Nova's Big Night Ignites Captains Offense

July 6, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


(Fort Wayne, IN) - The Lake County Captains (30-25) used two home runs from Victor Nova and 15 total hits to blast past the Fort Wayne TinCaps (23-31) 12-3 in the series opener, Tuesday night at Parkview Field.

Lake County took little time to take the lead in the top of the first inning. Will Brennan launched a double off the wall in right field to start the game. A soft single from Brayan Rocchio put runners on the corners. Bryan Lavastida was up next and hit a sacrifice fly to left center that brought home Brennan and advanced Rocchio to third base. On a ground ball to second base off the bat of George Valera had Rocchio dashing home. The throw was offline and Rocchio scored to put the Captains on top 2-0.

In the bottom of the first Fort Wayne answered back immediately with two runs to even the score. Jonny Homza ripped a leadoff double to begin the TinCaps rally. Chris Givin walked, then an error at third base by Aaron Bracho loaded the bases with nobody out. Tirso Ornelas drew another walk to force in the first TinCap run. With one out and the bases still loaded Kelvin Alarcon topped a slow ground ball to second base. Rocchio fielded cleanly but his flip to second base was offline for the second Captains error of the frame, allowing Givin to score and tie the game 2-2.

After a leadoff walk to Aaron Bracho in the second, Victor Nova connected for a majestic two-run home run to right field to put the Captains back in front 4-2.

With two outs in the top of the third Nova came to the plate with Joe Naranjo on second who doubled with one out. Nova hit a sharp line drive down the right field line. Nova attempted to stretch his second hit of the night into a double but got thrown out at second. Naranjo crossed home plate prior to Nova getting tagged out, so the run scored and the Captains lead stretched to 5-2.

The Captains took an 8-2 lead in the fourth, thanks to four hits and three stolen bases. Brennan began the inning with a check-swing single down the left field line. He stole second and scored on a single by Lavastida to left-center. After Lavastida stole second, Valera ripped an RBI single to left field and moved to second base when the throw came home.

José Tena added another run when he grounded a ball up the middle to score Valera and then hustled into second for a double when nobody was covering the bag. Tena later stole second, but was left stranded.

Bracho started a two-out rally in the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line. That brought Nova to the plate and he launched his second home run of the night to make the score 10-2, Captains.

Fort Wayne pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 10-3. Jawuan Harris walked, then a single from Homza put runners on first and third. Another walk loaded the bases. Tirso Ornelas hit a sharp ground ball to Tena at shortstop who stepped on the second base bag then threw to first for a double play. Harris scored from third for the lone run of the inning for Fort Wayne.

Brennan wasted no time getting back on the bases in the top of the eighth. He singled for his fourth hit of the day to start the eighth. Rocchio followed with a line drive two-run home run to left field for his team high seventh of the year to give the Captains a 12-3 lead.

Nathan Ocker (3-0) earned this win out of the bullpen with two shutout innings. He allowed two hits and struck out one.

Moises Lugo (0-3) lasted just three innings as the TinCaps starter and took the loss. He allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Xzavion Curry is scheduled to start for the Captains in the second game of the six-game series. First pitch at Parkview Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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