Dragons Sneak Past Captains 4-3

(Eastlake, OH) - Dayton got an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning and beat the Captains by a final of 4-3. Jon Matthews walked and then stole second and third base. Matthews raced home on a sacrifice fly by Sammy Diaz and the score was 4-2 Dayton. The Dragons needed that run because they won the ballgame by one run. The Captains have a record of 20-21 in one run games this season.

Dayton took the early lead in the first inning. Zach Vincej singled and came in to score on the two out double by Seth Mejias-Brean. The score was 1-0 Dragons after one.

The Captains took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jorge Martinez was hit-by-a-pitch and Yhoxian Medina singled. With one out, LeVon Washington doubled to left field and the both Martinez and Medina scored. The Dragons tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth inning. Sammy Diaz walked and took second on an error. A wild pitch moved Diaz to third base and he later scored on a double play turned by the Captains. The game was tied at 2-2.

In the top of the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Tanner Rahier hit a groundball to shortstop but beat out the throw to first base. The infield single produced, the go-ahead run and was Rahier's third hit of the night. The score was 3-2 Dragons.

Jeremy Lucas blasted his sixth homerun of the season over the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning but the Captains fell short 4-3. Lucas is the reigning Cleveland Indians Minor League Player of the Week.

RHP Dylan Baker (7-6) started the game for Lake County and did not get a decision. Baker pitched six innings and allowed six hits, two earned runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. Jimmy Stokes (0-2) entered in relief and pitched one plus inning of work and allowed four hits and one earned run. Stokes walked one and took the loss. Grant Sides pitched two innings, and allowed one hit, one earned run and walked two. Sides struck out two.

LHP Amir Garrett (1-2) took the ball for Dayton and did not factor into the decision. Garrett twirled five innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Jackson Stephens (3-5) entered in relief and earned the win. Stephens pitched four innings, and allowed just three hits one earned run, one walk and one strikeout. Stephens allowed the homer to Lucas.

Thursday is Thirsty Thursday, presented by ESPN 850 WKNR, featuring a 25-cent beer Happy Hour for one hour before game time and half-price draft beer and fountain soda until 9 PM. A wing and pizza buffet will also be available outside the Corona Castaways Bar, featuring Happy Moose Bar and Grill wing sauces and pizza from Cleveland Pizza Company. 

Thursday is also Date Night, which provides couples with the opportunity to purchase two tickets to The Officer's Club Suite and enjoy a buffet dinner, a $56 value, for only $32. Game time is 7 PM.

With the college football season right around the corner, the Captains will also celebrate the spirit of the gridiron game with college football trivia, entertaining college fight songs, and information on the upcoming college football season. 

The Captains will remain in Eastlake, Ohio on Thursday to take on the Dayton Dragons in the second game of a three game set. The Captains will start RHP Robbie Aviles (3-4, 3.84) to start the ballgame and the Dragons will throw with RHP Drew Cisco (4-7, 3.90). First Pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM from Classic Park.

Individual game tickets for these, and all Captains games, may be purchased at the Captains official website www.CaptainsBaseball.com.