Sports stats

MWL Lake County Captains

Unearned Runs Bite Captains against Cubs

July 2, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Lake County Captains News Release


(Eastlake, OH) - Two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning doomed the Lake County Captains (27-24) in a 5-3 loss to the South Bend Cubs (21-29) on Friday night at Classic Park.

South Bend got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning. With one out, Edmond Americaan doubled for the first Cubs hit. Nelson Velazquez was due up next and he lifted a high fly ball that drifted over the wall in right field for a home run to put the Cubs in front 2-0.

Bryan Lavastida started the second inning for the Captains with a soft ground ball up the third base line that Jake Slaughter threw into the stands, allowing Lavastida to move to second. On the next pitch José Tena slapped a single to center field to drive in Lavastida and cut the Captains deficit with a 2-1 score.

The Captains tied the game in the fourth inning. Lake County loaded the bases with nobody out on a leadoff double by Lavastida, a single by Tena and a walk to Aaron Bracho. Cubs starter Derek Casey struck out Raynel Delgado, but Quentin Holmes evened the score at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Lavastida.

South Bend reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth. Captains starter Tanner Burns walked Bradlee Beesley with one out. Beesley stole second and Josue Huma ripped a line drive into the right-center field gap with two outs. Beesley scored to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead, but Captains center fielder Will Brennan threw out Huma, as the batter tried to stretch his single into a double.

Lavastida and Tena were, once again, at the center of the Captains' offense in the sixth. Lavastida led off with a single for his third hit of the game. Tena followed with his third hit, a first-pitch single to right-center that moved Lavastida to third. Delgado then knocked in Lavastida with a sacrifice fly to right to even the score at 3-3.

In the top of the seventh the Cubs took the lead back. A bunt single from Yonathan Perlaza started the inning for South Bend. Captains starter Tanner Burns hit Jake Slaughter with a pitch to place two men on. Both advanced on a groundout for the first out of the inning. With two on and two out the Captains went to the bullpen calling on Nathan Ocker. After a strikeout, a pitch from Ocker kicked away from Lake County catcher Joe Donovan for a passed ball. Donovan retrieved the ball and threw home attempting to cut down Perlaza but the ball kicked away from Ocker. Slaughter scored as the ball trickled up the first base line away from Ocker on what was recorded as a passed ball and an error on Donovan to give the Cubs a 5-3 advantage.

Casey (4-5) allowed three runs in six innings of work to earn the win for the Cubs. He struck out six and walked one while scattering eight hits.

Burns (2-4) worked a career-long 6.1 innings on the mound for Lake County but took the loss. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed five runs with three of them being earned on four hits.

Eury Ramos (4) tossed a clean ninth inning to earn the save. He struck out one in 1.1 of work on the mound.

The Captains and Cubs will meet for the second doubleheader of the series on Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for 4:00 p.m. at Classic Park.

Check out the Lake County Captains Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 2, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Lake County Captains Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central