MWL Lake County Captains

Tena Blasts off Twice in 8-2 Win

May 14, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


(Eastlake, OH) - A two-home run night by José Tena helped carry the Lake County Captains (7-3) to their fourth consecutive win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-6) on Friday night at Classic Park. Tena homered in the third and eighth, and also added an RBI double in an 8-2 Captains victory.

Before Tena's bat stole the show, Captains starter Tanner Burns was perfect in his first trip through the Fort Wayne order. The right-hander struck out the side, all swinging, in the first. In the second, Burns set down the middle of the Fort Wayne lineup in order on two fly outs and a ground out. He then struck out the side again in the third.

Tena gave Burns run support and started his hot night in the bottom of the third. With two outs and the bases empty, Tena blasted a Moises Lugo pitch over the right-centerfield wall. The solo homer gave the Captains a 1-0 lead.

Burns started strong again in the fourth. The Captains' starter caught Jawuan Harris looking for his career-high seventh strikeout and then got Reinaldo Ilarraza to ground out to second base. Burns' first two outs of the frame gave him 11 consecutive outs to start the game. Burns, however, walked Tirso Ornelas with two out to end the streak. Jonny Homza came up next and delivered Fort Wayne's first hit and runs with a two-run homer down the left field line to put the TinCaps ahead, 2-1.

The Captains knotted the score in the fifth. TinCaps reliever Felix Minjarez walked Victor Nova and Brayan Rocchio, back-to-back, to begin the inning. Tena followed and ripped a line drive double that skipped to the right field wall. Nova scored to tie the game, but the TinCaps threw Rocchio out at home. Rocchio turned the corner at third as the TinCaps relayed the ball from right fielder Tirso Ornelas to shortstop Justin Lopez to catcher Jonny Homza. Rocchio slammed on the brakes between third and home. Homza tossed to third baseman Ethan Skender, who tagged out Rocchio in the rundown. Homza later threw behind Tena to pick the runner off of second and end the inning.

The Captains took the lead again in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back walks chased TinCaps reliever Felix Minjarez with nobody out. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with one out for Aaron Bracho, who drove a single through the left side that scored Nova with the go-ahead run. Jonathan Engelmann followed suit for Lake County with a soft single to right field that scored Tena. After a wild pitch advanced Bracho and Engelmann, Joe Naranjo was robbed of a hit on a diving play up the middle by Lopez at shortstop, but it was enough to score Bracho and give the Captains a 5-2 advantage.

Lake County added more insurance in the bottom of the eighth, thanks in part to Tena's second homer. Mike Amditis started the frame with a sharp double to the left field wall. He advanced to third on a groundout to second and came home to score on an RBI single by Rocchio. Tena followed by launching his second home run of the night to right field, which pushed the Captains' lead to 8-2.

Kevin Kelly (1-0) worked three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Captains to earn the win. He allowed just one hit with three strikeouts.

Minjarez (0-1) took the loss in relief for the TinCaps. He allowed three runs in his two innings on the mound with six walks and two strikeouts.

Kellen Rholl (1) finished the game and earned the six-out save. The lefty worked both the eighth and ninth for Lake County. He held Fort Wayne scoreless on one hit with two walks and one strikeout.

The Captains will look for their fifth straight win on Saturday against Fort Wayne. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. from Classic Park.

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