Captains Stave Off Kernels Late Push 

(EASTLAKE, OH) – The Lake County Captains (65-48) had two three-run innings to separate themselves from the Cedar Rapids Kernels (68-47) and came away with a 7-5 series-opening win on a clear-skied Tuesday night at Classic Park.

With the win and a West Michigan loss, Lake County now holds a two-game lead in the Midwest League East Second Half standings.

Doug Nikhazy made his twentieth start of the season and completed six innings for the third consecutive outing. Through his first five innings, the left-hander allowed at least one runner to reach but worked out of each and every time. In Nikhazy’s sixth and final frame, he struck out the side and totaled nine.

The Captains plated three runs in the second, of three doubles. With one, Connor Kokx doubled and Gabriel Rodriguez rifled a single to put two on. Korey Holland then lined a double to right-center to score Kokx and was followed up by a Mike Amditis who punched a ball down the right field line, to bring home Rodriguez and Holland.

Cedar Rapids’ Travis Adams would not permit another run and would strike out six over the next three innings and overall finished with 11 through five.

Lake County cushioned their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Connor Kokx singled stole second and third and scored on a passed ball. After two walks, Zac Fascia came up and grounded a ball up the middle that brought across two.

The Kernels cut into the 6-0 lead in the seventh. Two home runs made it a three-run game, Lenny Torres did gain two outs in the inning. Davis Sharpe collected the final out and would allow only one runner in a scoreless eighth.

Gabriel Rodriguez provided an insurance run driving home Alexfri Planez with a single. Both men had two hits on the evening.

Elvis Jerez got the ninth. The right-hander allowed a single, a walk and then a passed ball that put both runners in scoring position. Jerez then traded outs for runs with a groundout to second and sacrifice fly to LF, making it a 7-5 game. A strikeout would end the game and be the twelfth Kernel to strikeout.

Game two of this six-game series will be tomorrow Wednesday, August 24th. It is a Paws N Claws Wednesday with pooch passes available for five dollars and 12 oz. White Claws for three dollars.

Coverage of all games can be found on WJCU.org/Captains and the MiLB First Pitch app.