Captains Rally Twice And Top Dragons

(Dayton, OH) -The Lake County Captains were forced to rally from behind twice on Monday night. Despite three homeruns for the Dayton Dragons, the Captains would score five runs over the final two innings to rally late for a 9-5 win. With the win the Captains even the three game series at a game apiece.  

The Dragons would strike first in the game. In the bottom of the second inning with two outs, Garrett Boulware would single to extend the inning. Narciso Crook would follow with a long two run homerun to leftfield for a 2-0 Dayton lead.                                                                                                   

Dayton would add a third run to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Shed Long led off the inning with a deep drive over the head of Silento Sayles in rightfield. The ball would come to rest under the video board on the wall in rightfield, allowing Long to race around the bases with an inside the park homerun for a 3-0 lead.                                                                                                       

The Captains answered back with two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead.                                                                                                                

In the fourth inning Yu-Cheng Chang would walk with two outs to extend the inning. Grant Fink would follow with a fielder's choice but a throwing error by Luis Gonzalez would allow the inning to continue with runners at first and second. Silento Sayles promptly followed with a two run double to clear the bases and pull the Captains within a run at 3-2.

Lake County took their first lead in the bottom of the fifth. Ordomar Valdez led off the inning with a double. Greg Allen would then lay down a sacrifice bunt, the throw by Wyatt Strahan would sail over everyone's head and into the seats allowing Valdez to score and putting Allen at second. Francisco Mejia would then bring Allen in with an RBI single and putting the Captains up 4-3.

The Dragons took the lead back at 5-3 in the seventh inning on Narciso Crook's second two run homerun of the game.

In the top of the eighth inning the Captains would answer right back. Fink started the inning by drawing a walk. After a wild pitched moved him to second, Fink would move to third on a sac bunt by Sayles. Taylor Murphy would then pinch hit for David Armendariz. With the infield pulled in, Murphy hit a slow bouncer to Gonzalez at short. The ball kicked off the end of Gonzalez's glove for an error allowing Fink to score to tie the game. Gonzalez would then commit a second error on the play when he threw the ball away at first letting Murphy move to second. Murphy would score to give the Captains the lead when Valdez doubled again.

In the top of the ninth the Captains put the game away with three runs. The Dragons would commit another error and the Captains would get running scoring hits from Sayles and Valdez to push the score out to the final of 9-5.

Thomas Pannone took a no decision in 6.0 innings of work. He allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits. Pannone walked 1 and struck out 3. Cortland Cox (1-0) got the relief win with 1.0 inning pitched. He allowed 2 earned runs on 2 hits. Cox struck out 1. Cameron Hill (9) earned the save with 2.0 perfect innings of relief. Hill struck out 3.

The Captains will look for the series win on Tuesday night as they meet the Dragons for the final time in 2015. Jordan Milbrath will start for the Captains with first pitch set for 7:00pm. Catch all the action 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.