Lugnuts Win Wild Game 7-6

(Lansing, MI)- Matt Dean ripped a triple to left field to lead off of the bottom of the seventh inning, and he eventually scored the winning run in a 7-6 Lugnuts win over the Captains on Monday Night. Lansing had twelve hits in the victory. The Captains committed two more errors and struck out nine more times to up their strikeout total to 162 on the season, a Midwest League high.

Lake County (5-12) scored in the top of the first inning to take the lead. Eric Haase blasted his team leading fourth home run of the season. The solo homerun made it 1-0 Captains. The Lugnuts scored a run to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. Dickie Joe Thon doubled with one out and raced home on a Mitch Nay triple. The score was 1-1 after one inning of play.

Lansing (5-11) took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Carlos Ramirez reached on an error, and the stole second base. Jason Leblebijian doubled home Ramirez, and the Lugs led 2-1. The Captains came back to tie the game in the top of the third inning, when Haase reached on an error. Haase raced around the bases to score on an RBI triple from Anthony Santander. The score was tied at 2-2.

Lansing scored three runs in the bottom half of the third inning to take the lead. Lansing got the first two hitters on base and in scoring position. Mitch Nay grounded out which produced a run to give Lansing the 3-2 lead. Derrick Loveless singled home a run and the score was 4-2. Loveless moved to second base on an error and scored on a single from Santiago Nessy and the score was 5-2.

Lake County scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the 6-5 lead. Josh McAdams singled to lead off. Clint Frazier walked, and Dorssys Paulino tripled to right center field. The score was 5-4. Eric Haase walked to put runners on the corners. A fielders choice and a two base error by Lansing allowed both Paulino and Haase to score and the Captains took the 6-5 lead. Lansing tied the score in the bottom of the fifth inning. Mitch Nay singled, and came around to score on a Santiago Nessy double. The score was 6-6 headed to the sixth inning.

RHP Dace Kime (0-3) started the game for the Captains and did not factor in the decision. Kime twirled four innings and allowed nine hits, five runs, three earned runs and he fanned two. Kenny Mathews (1-2) took the loss. Mathews pitched three innings, and allowed just three hits, two earned runs, and he struck out five. Ben Heller pitched a scoreless eight inning for the Captains.

RHP Alberto Tirado (0-0) started for the Lugnuts and did not get a decision. Tirado pitched three innings, and allowed four hits two runs and one was earned. He walked three and struck out two. From that point the Lugnuts used four pitchers in relief for the final six innings. The win went to Griffin Murphy (2-1). Murphy pitched two innings and allowed two hits and two strikeouts. Murphy's era now sits at (0.96). The save went to Scott Silverstein his second of the season.

The Captains will stay on the road in Lansing, MI on Tuesday and take on Lansing Lugnuts in game two of a four game series. The Captains will start RHP Caleb Hamrick (1-1, 8.25) and Lansing will counter with RHP Jeremy Gabryszwski (0-2, 5.17). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM from Cooley Law School Stadium.

For the entire month of April, Captains fans are invited to donate food to the Harvest for Hunger Campaign for the Cleveland Food Bank.   Fans can bring food donations to the Classic Park Box Office now through Wednesday, April 30 and receive a discounted $8 ticket to any home game starting Monday, April 14th through Wednesday, April 30.

Individual game tickets are on sale at the Classic Park box office, online at captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Full season tickets plans, 7-, 12-, 20-, and 35-game mini ticket plans for the 2014 season are on sale now at great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.