(Eastlake, OH) - Former Captain Ruben Cardenas was the hero for his new ball club on Friday night. The Lake County Captains (29-31, 69-60) were one out away from securing a 2-1 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (37-23, 76-54) when Cardenas blooped a two-run single into centerfield. Cardenas'
(Eastlake, OH) - Former Captain Ruben Cardenas was the hero for his new ball club on Friday night. The Lake County Captains (29-31, 69-60) were one out away from securing a 2-1 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (37-23, 76-54) when Cardenas blooped a two-run single into centerfield. Cardenas' hit led Bowling Green to a 3-2 win over Lake County at Classic Park and sealed a three-game sweep.
Cardenas, who was a Captain until July 28 when the Cleveland Indians traded the outfielder to the Tampa Bay Rays, drove home all three runs for the Hot Rods. Cardenas knocked in the game's first run in the third. Grant Witherspoon led off with a single and Jonathan Aranda singled two batters later. Cardenas then pulled a single into left field to score Witherspoon and give the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead.
Lake County came back with two runs in the fourth to take the lead. Raynel Delgado and Clark Scolamiero hit back-to-back singles to begin the inning to put men on the corners. After Scolamiero stole second, Daniel Schneemann roped a line drive to left-center that Cardenas chased down from centerfield. Delgado tagged up and scored from third to tie the game. Ulysses Cantu followed with a single and Quentin Holmes put the Captains in front, 2-1, with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Captains starter Matt Turner spun five strong innings to help keep Lake County ahead. The lefty allowed one run on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Thomas Ponticelli followed with a pair of scoreless frames, in which he stranded four runners, and Jake Miednik worked a one-two-three eighth.
Miednik came back out for the ninth and the Hot Rods rallied. Roberto Alvarez led off with a single, but Miednik got the next two hitters. Tony Pena tried to bunt with two strikes and fouled it off for a strikeout and Witherspoon flied out to left. Osmy Gregorio kept the game alive with a two-out single to left and Miednik walked Aranda to load the bases. Cardenas came up next and punched a broken-bat flare into shallow centerfield. Jose Fermin raced back from second base, but the ball fell just clear of his outstretched glove. Alvarez scored from third to tie the game and Gregorio scored from second to give Bowling Green the lead.
Hector Figueroa retired the Captains in order in the ninth to secure the win for Bowling Green. Figueroa (1-1) earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts.
Miednik (2-1) suffered his first blown save of the year. The lefty surrendered two runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts over two innings.
Lake County was swept for just the third time this year and will begin a series with the Dayton Dragons on Saturday night. The opener of the four-game set is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Classic Park.
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.
