(Fort Wayne, IN) - The Lake County Captains (40-28) are heading to the 2019 Midwest League postseason. Thanks to a 7-4 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (32-35) on Saturday night at Parkview Field, the Captains have clinched the Eastern Division Wild Card in the first half.
(Fort Wayne, IN) - The Lake County Captains (40-28) are heading to the 2019 Midwest League postseason. Thanks to a 7-4 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (32-35) on Saturday night at Parkview Field, the Captains have clinched the Eastern Division Wild Card in the first half.
Lake County's bats started red hot in the top of the first. Bo Naylor and Will Benson cracked back-to-back homers to give the Captains a 3-0 lead. Naylor blasted a two-run shot to right-center and Benson followed with a solo homer to straightaway right. Mitch Reeves followed with a sharp grounder to third that ate up Kelvin Melean and a single by Josh Rolette moved Reeves to third. Reeves then took off for third and TinCaps starter Efraín Contreras stepped off the mound and fired the ball over Melean's head, allowing Reeves to score and push the Captains' lead to 4-0.
Fort Wayne scored its first run in strange fashion in the second. Michael Curry and Justin Lopez began the inning with back-to-back singles and were on first and second when Rolette, the Captains' catcher, tossed the ball into the dugout without calling for time out. The play resulted in a two-base error, allowing Curry to score from second base and cut the Captains' advantage to 4-1.
The Captains tacked on a run in the fifth and another in the seventh. Benson worked a one-out walk in the fifth against Angel Acevedo. Two batters later, Rolette drove him home with a double over centerfielder Grant Little. In the seventh, Tyler Freeman reached on an infield single and Naylor singled to right to put two men on. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third before Reeves knocked in Freeman with a sacrifice fly to right to extend Lake County's lead to 6-1.
The TinCaps pulled closer with a pair of runs in the eighth. With two outs and nobody on, Curry and Lopez singled off of reliever Kyle Marman . Juan Fernandez then doubled to right-center, bringing home both runners to trim the Captians' lead to three runs at 6-3.
Reeves gave Lake County another insurance run in the ninth. After Naylor worked a one-out walk against reliever Nick Kuzia and moved to second on a wild pitch, Reeves pulled an RBI single to left field to give the Captains a 7-3 lead.
Fort Wayne gave the Captains a scare in the bottom of the ninth. Captains All-Star reliever Manuel Alvarez began the inning by walking Lee Solomon and Xavier Edwards on eight straight balls. After Tucupita Marcano popped to second for the first out, Alvarez walked Little to load the bases. Lefty Eli Lingos came in from the bullpen to face Agustin Ruiz, who hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Solomon, but also served as the second out. Lingos then struck out Curry to end the ballgame and send the Captains to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Captains starter Cody Morris earned the win. Morris (5-2) held Fort Wayne to one unearned run over five innings. The right-hander struck out six, walked one and surrendered just three hits. Lingos recorded the second two outs in consecutive fashion for his fourth save.
TinCaps starter Efrain Contreras took the loss. Contreras (3-3) allowed four runs, three earned, over 2.2 innings. He struck out two, walked none and allowed six hits.
The Captains wrap up the first half on Sunday afternoon against the TinCaps. First pitch at Parkview Field is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
Individual game tickets for all Captains games are on sale at the Classic Park box office, online at captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Mini ticket plans for the 2019 season are still available for great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.
