Late Rally Comes Up Short

(Bowling Green, KY) -The Lake County Captains saw an early lead disappear to the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Wednesday night. Despite trailing 9-2, the Captains battled back and were able to get the tying run on deck in the ninth inning. However, the rally would fall short as the Captains fell to the Hot Rods 9-6.   

The Captains jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. With one out Silento Sayles singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sayles would come in to score the first run of the game when Anthony Santander doubled to rightfield for a 1-0 lead.                       

Bowling Green would take the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs Carter Burgess and Mac James each reached on infield singles to extend the inning. Cristian Toribio then followed with a three run homerun to put the Hot Rods up 3-1.                                                                                                       

The Captains answered back to pull to within a run in the top of the third inning. Ordomar Valdez singled to start the inning and promptly stole second. Valdez would then move to third on a sac bunt from Sayles. A Taylor Murphy sac fly would bring Valdez in to cut the deficit to 3-2.   

The Hot Rods would pull away with five runs over the next three innings to push their lead out to 9-2.

In the top of the eighth inning the Captains would start a rally. With one out Murphy would walk. Grant Fink followed with a single. Steven Patterson would then walk to load the bases. Yu-Cheng Chang would then double off the top of the wall in centerfield to score Murphy and Fink to cut the deficit to 9-4.

The Captains would continue to rally in the top of the ninth inning. Valdez would start the inning with a single. Following a ground out, Santander drew a walk. Murphy would then double to drive in Valdez and move Santander to third. Santander would also score on an RBI ground out from Fink. The Captains however wouldn't be able to finish the rally as the tying run would be left on deck.

Sean Brady (7-12) took the loss with 4.1 innings of work. He allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, on 8 hits. Brady walked 2 and struck out 1. Nick Pasquale would follow with 1.2 innings of relief. He allowed 1 earned run on 3 hits. Pasquale struck out 1. Justin Garcia would then go the final 2.0 innings in relief. Garcia allowed 1 earned run on 2 hits. He walked 1 and struck out 1.

With the loss the Captains are officially eliminated from playoff contention.  

The Captains will look to even up the series with the Hot Rods on Thursday night with Justus Sheffield on the mound. First pitch from Bowling Green is set for 8:05pm ET 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.