Long Ball Propels Captains to 8-5 Win

(Comstock Park, MI) - Luigi Rodriguez hit a two run homer and Eric Haase hit a solo shot in the ninth inning to power the Lake County Captains (6-12) past the West Michigan Whitecaps (7-9) on Tuesday afternoon by a final of 8-5. The two run homerun by Rodriguez put the Captains up 7-4 and two batters later Haase made it 8-4. Both players hit their first homer of the season. 

Lake County scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. Dorssys Paulino singled home a run and two batters later Nellie Rodriguez doubled to left field and two more Captains touched home plate and the score was 3-0.

In the fifth, West Michigan scored four runs to take a one run lead. Danry Vazquez had the big hit in the inning a two run double to tie the game at 3-3. Devon Travis followed with a sac fly and it was 4-3 Whitecaps.

Lake County took the lead in the eighth inning. The Captains had runners on second and third with one out. Erik Gonzalez lined a double down the left field line and both runners came across to score. Lake County led by one run at 5-4. That was until the ninth inning, when the Captains used the two homers to take a 8-4 lead. In the bottom of the ninth Jake Stewart of the Whitecaps tripled and came around to score on a ground out. That was the final run. The score was 8-5.

The Captains sent LHP Ryan Merritt (1-2) to the hill. Merritt did not get a decision. He went five and two thirds innings allowing seven hits, four earned runs, one walk and five strikeouts. Michael People worked two and one third innings in relief. Peoples (1-0) got the win. Louis Head pitched the ninth inning for Lake County.

West Michigan started the RHP Endrys Briceno (0-1) to the mound for a start. Brienco did not get a decision. He pitched five innings allowing four hits three earned runs three walks and three strikeouts. Angel Nesbitt took the loss. Nesbitt (0-1) allowed six hits, five earned runs, and only fanned one.

The Captains and Whitecaps will play game three of a three game series on Wednesday afternoon. Lake County will send the RHP Joe Colon (0-0, 3.59) to the hill to square off against RHP Edgar De La Rosa (1-0, 5.87) for West Michigan. First pitch is at Noon.

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