(Eastlake, OH) - Juan Hillman continued his recent trend of terrific starts on Sunday afternoon. The left-hander held the West Michigan Whitecaps (9-9, 45-43) to one run over six innings to lead the Lake County Captains (8-10, 37-51) to a 7-1 victory at Classic Park. Sunday's ballgame began as a
(Eastlake, OH) - Juan Hillman continued his recent trend of terrific starts on Sunday afternoon. The left-hander held the West Michigan Whitecaps (9-9, 45-43) to one run over six innings to lead the Lake County Captains (8-10, 37-51) to a 7-1 victory at Classic Park.
Sunday's ballgame began as a pitcher's duel between Hillman and Whitecaps right-hander Wilkel Hernandez. In his first four innings on the mound, Hernandez struck out five Captains and held Lake County to one hit, a first-inning single by Oscar Gonzalez . After that hit, Hernandez retired 11 men in a row. On the flip side, Hillman blanked the Whitecaps over the first five frames. Though he allowed two walks and hit a batter, the Captains' southpaw only surrendered one hit, a second-inning double by Cam Warner.
Lake County finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the fifth. With one out and nobody aboard, Will Benson connected on a 2-0 pitch and sent a drive over the right-centerfield wall. Benson's 12th home run of the year marked his first long ball since June 6 and gave the Captains a 1-0 lead.
West Michigan answered to tie the game in the sixth, but the Captains did catch a break. Brady Policelli led off with a fly ball to right-center that nearly left the yard, but instead hit the top of the wall for a double. Brock Deatherage followed with a single and Policelli advanced to third. Reynaldo Rivera came up next and, with Deatherage running on the pitch, hit a fly ball to centerfield. After Todd Isaacs made the catch, Policelli tagged up and scored from third with the tying run. Deatherage retreated back to first, but the Captains appealed to second base and Deatherage was called out for failing to touch second. With the bases clear, Hillman got Jordan Pearce to pop up to end the inning and keep the game tied, 1-1.
Elvis Perez gave the Captains the lead again with one big swing in the sixth. With two outs and nobody on, Perez plastered a 2-0 pitch to right field. His solo homer landed on the roof of the batting cages to give Lake County a 2-1 advantage.
The Captains scored five more runs against West Michigan reliever Will Vest in the next two innings to blow the game open. In the seventh, Nolan Jones led off with an infield single and Jonathan Laureano followed with a single. Jones then scored on a wild pitch with Benson at the plate to extend the lead to 3-1. Laureano moved to second on the play. After Vest struck out Benson, Jose Vicente flied out to center and Laureano tagged up and advanced to third. With two outs and Laureano 90 feet away, Miguel Eladio chopped a grounder toward first. Frist baseman Jordan Pearce went to make the play, but the ball hit the lip of the grass and skidded under his glove. Laureano came home on the infield single and the Captains took a 4-1 lead.
Lake County piled on in the eighth. Jesse Berardi led off with a single and Vest followed with a walk to Perez. Gonzalez then smacked a line drive double into the gap in right-centerfield to score Berardi and move Perez to third. The Whitecaps called on Clate Schmidt to get out of the jam, but the right-hander threw a wild pitch that scored Perez and moved Gonzalez up to third. Jones then hit a sacrifice fly to left that brought home Gonzalez to push the Captains' advantage to 7-1.
West Michigan threatened with two outs in the ninth, but nothing came of the rally. Jonathan Teaney retired the first two men on a strikeout and a fly out before walking Joey Morgan, allowing a single by Cam Warner and walking Anthony Pereira. He then froze Garrett McCain with strike three to end the game and leave the bases loaded.
Hillman (3-8) earned the win for Lake County. The lefty pitched six innings and surrendered one run on four hits. He struck out one, walked two and hit one batter. In his last four starts, Hillman has posted a 1.48 ERA.
Hernandez (0-2) took a tough-luck loss. The 19-year old Whitecaps starter held Lake County to two runs on three hits. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk.
Lake County has won two out of the first three games in this four-game series. The Captains go for the series win on Monday night at Classic Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Information about Classic Park or the Captains can be found online at www.captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-<st1:stockticker w:st="on">WINS (9467). Affordable ticket packages and group party and picnic options are available now.
