(Eastlake, OH) - Nolan Jones wrapped up a huge series at the plate to end the first half, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (47-22) finished a three-game sweep of the Lake County Captains (29-41) on Sunday afternoon at Classic Park, 6-2. The first-half champion Hot Rods set a new
(Eastlake, OH) - Nolan Jones wrapped up a huge series at the plate to end the first half, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (47-22) finished a three-game sweep of the Lake County Captains (29-41) on Sunday afternoon at Classic Park, 6-2. The first-half champion Hot Rods set a new franchise record with its 11th consecutive win.
Jones produced the Captains' only two runs with an opposite-field home run in the seventh inning. After Oscar Gonzalez singled off of right-handed reliever Jose Disla, Jones blasted a two-run shot to left-centerfield. Over three games against Bowling Green, the Captains' third baseman homered twice and went 7-for-11.
Hot Rods starter Resly Linares stymied the Captains in the first-half finale. The southpaw held Lake County to just one hit - a fourth-inning single by Jones - over five shutout innings. Linares (1-1) struck out eight and walked one, en route to his first win of the year.
Bowling Green's offense gave Linares a 1-0 lead in the third with a two-out rally. Alex Alvarez singled and Vidal Brujan chopped a grounder over Captains starter Francisco Perez for an infield hit. Perez then walked Taylor Walls to load the bases. The southpaw nearly escaped the inning unscathed, but a wild pitch skipped past catcher Joshua Rolette and Alvarez scored. Perez then fanned Moises Gomez to end the inning.
The Hot Rods tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Mac Seibert led off with a single and Alvarez followed with a single that moved Seibert to third. Brujan pushed a bunt toward first and raced to first for a bunt single, while Seibert hustled home to score. After a wild pitch moved Brujan to second and Alvarez to third, Walls looped a two-run double down the right field line to give Bowling Green a 4-0 lead.
Alvarez added to his strong day at the plate in the seventh against Captains lefty Skylar Arias . He lifted a leadoff homer to left field to push the Hot Rods to a 5-0 lead. Alvarez finished the game 3-for-4 with a homer, two singles and three runs scored. Two batters later, Walls singled and Gomez followed with an RBI double to make it 6-0.
Perez (4-4) took the loss. The Captains' southpaw allowed four runs over 5.2 innings. He surrendered seven hits and walked one, but struck out a season-high six batters.
The All-Star break begins on Monday and the Midwest League All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, MI. Will Benson and Kyle Nelson will represent the Captains in the 54th MWL All-Star Classic. Benson will also compete in the Home Run Derby before the All-Star Game on Tuesday. After missing the playoffs in the first half, Lake County begins the second half with seven games on the road. The road trip begins with four games in Bowling Green, beginning on Thursday. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET.
Information about Classic Park or the Captains can be found online at www.captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-<st1:stockticker w:st="on">WINS (9467). Affordable ticket packages and group party and picnic options are available now.
