Captains Rally Late To Top The Tincaps

(Ft. Wayne, IN) -For the first eight innings of the game on Thursday night, the Lake County Captains offense couldn't get anything going against the Fort Wayne Tincaps. Then in the bottom of the ninth inning the Captains would score three to tie the game. In the top of the tenth they would put the game away with six runs for a 9-3 win.                                                                                                          

The Tincaps jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Luis Tejada connected on a solo homerun for a 1-0 lead.  

Fort Wayne would then add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out Trae Santos doubled. He would move to third on a single by Michael Gettys and score on an RBI fielder's choice by Tejada. Tejada would then score on Edwin Moreno's RBI double for a 3-0 lead.

The Captains would struggle to get anything going offensively through the first eight innings. They would get just five hits through the first eight. But the offense would come alive in top of the ninth.

Anthony Santander doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a Bobby Bradley ground out. Taylor Murphy then walked to put runners at first and third. A Yu-Cheng Chang RBI single scored Santander to cut the deficit to 3-1. Francisco Mejia would then single to load the bases with one out. Murphy would score to cut the deficit to 3-2 on an RBI fielder's choice by Steven Patterson. With two outs and Chang at third, a passed ball would allow the tying run to score to push the game to extra innings at 3-3.  

Greg Allen and Yonathan Mendoza walked to start the top of the tenth inning. Allen would then steal third and score the eventual winning run on a wild pitch. Santander would also walk after the wild pitch to put runners at first and second. With Bobby Bradley at the plate, another wild pitch would score Mendoza from third. Bradley would then lace a double to rightfield to score Santander. Bradley would also score when Chang tripled to centerfield. A Mejia RBI single would then allow Chang to score as well. The Captains final run of the night came on an RBI double by Bobby Ison to score Mejia for a 9-3 lead.

Luke Eubank then worked a perfect tenth inning to close out the win.

Anderson Polanco started and went the first 5.0 innings. He allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 6. Julian Merryweather than went 3.0 innings in relief. He allowed 2 runs, both earned, on 3 hits. Merryweather walked 1 and struck out 2. David Speer (3-4) earned the win in 1.0 inning of relief. He allowed no runs on 1 hit. He struck out 1. Eubank then pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.

The Captains will go for the series win on Friday night with Thomas Pannone on the mound. First pitch from Parkview Field is set for 7:05pm and can be heard on 1330AM WINT.

Individual game tickets are on sale now at the Classic Park Box Office, Online at CaptainsBaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Mini ticket plans for the 2015 season are on sale now at great prices complete with several exclusive benefits.