Snappers Sweep Captains with 7-6 Win
(Beloit, WI) - Renato Nunez singled home Brett Vertigan in the bottom of the ninth inning and that was the difference in a 7-6 Snappers win over Lake County. For Beloit (15-6) it was the second walk-off win against the Captains (12-9) in the three game set. Beloit won all three games in the series by one run. The all-time series is now tied at 6-6. The home team has won every game in the all-time series.
Lake County scored three runs in the first inning. Todd Hankins singled and scored on a double by Yhoxian Medina and the score was 1-0 after two hitters. Logan Vick singled to put runners at the corners, and Erik Gonzalez singled home Medina to make the score 2-0. With a runner on third, Eric Haase grounded out to shortstop and Logan Vick scored. The score after one half inning was 3-0 Captains. Beloit got a run back in the bottom half, Brett Vertigan walked and later scored on a base hit from Renato Nunez and it was 3-1 Captains after one inning.
The Captains extended their lead to 4-1 when Jeremy Lucas doubled and later scored on a single to right field by Jorge Martinez. The lead was back to three runs. Lake County made it 5-1 in the fourth inning with one out, the Captains knocked three straight singles the Final one from Yhoxian Medina to plate another run and the lead was increased to four runs.
The Snappers got within one run in the bottom of the fourth when Nick Rickles blasted a three run homerun over the left field wall. The homer was the fifth of the season for Rickles, and the 17th of the season that Luis Dejesus has given up. The score was 5-4 Captains. Beloit tied the score in the fifth. A lead off double from Aaron Shipman put the Snappers in position. Shipman later scored on a ground out and the score was 5-5.
Lake County regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning. With one out and a runner on third base, Joe sever hit a line drive to medium center field. Todd Hankins, who was on third base, raced home ahead of the throw and the Captains took the 6-5 lead. Beloit fought back again and tied the score in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Ryan Mathews doubled and scored on a base hit by Nick Rickles and the score was knotted at 6-6 headed to the ninth inning.
RHP Luis Dejesus (3-9) started the ballgame for the Captains and did not get a decision. Dejesus pitched five innings, and allowed six hits, five earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts. Dejesus allowed one homerun. Luis Morel pitched three innings in relief and allowed one earned run on five hits. Morel walked one and fanned four. D.J. Brown (1-2) took the loss after pitching one third of an inning and surrendering the walk-off in the ninth.
RHP Vince Vorio (5-3) got the starting nod from Beloit and did not factor in the decision. Voiro pitched three and two thirds innings and allowed five earned runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out two. The bullpen for Beloit pitched a combined to pitch five and one third inning and allowed just one run. The win went to David Mota. Mota (1-0) pitched two shutout innings and did not allow a hit.
Lake County will remain on the road. The Captains will travel to Appleton, WI to take on the 2012 Mid West League Champion Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Lake County will start RHP Jake Sisco (4-6, 3.63) and the Rattlers will counter with RHP Tyler Wagner (7-7, 3.63). First Pitch will be at 7:35 PM from Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Individual game tickets for these, and all Captains games, may be purchased at the Captains official website www.CaptainsBaseball.com.