Loons Come Alive in Ninth, Narrowly Win in Extras 5-4

(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains (52-45) could not convert on a bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Great Lakes Loons (60-39). It was a 5-4 loss for the Captains on an overcast Thursday night at Classic Park.

In the top of the first, Damon Keith, making his High-A debut for the Loons, would launch a ball in his first at-bat to put Great Lakes in the lead 1-0.

The early run was answered in the home half of the inning as Joe Naranjo muscled a ball to right center field for his 14th of the year. The solo blast would knot the game at one run a piece.

Johnathan Rodriguez broke the tie in the fourth inning when, following a Joe Naranjo walk to begin the frame, he put a ball into the bleachers in left field. It was his 17th of the season, and gave the Captains the lead 3-1.

Petey Halpin would extend his on-base streak to 26 games with a walk in the next at-bat.

Aaron Davenport wouldn't exit the game until the sixth inning, after allowing back-to-back hits to end his day. He would finish 5.1 innings pitched, only allowing one run on three hits. Raymond Burgos would come in to escape the sixth inning without allowing a run.

With bases loaded and no outs in the eighth, Lake County would strike out in back-to-back at-bats, but Connor Kokx eventually came home to score on a wild pitch before the final out was recorded. Captains were up 4-1.

In the top of the ninth, Davis Sharpe entered to begin the inning. After recording two outs, Damon Keith reached on a two-strike single. Jose Ramos, once again down to the Loons' final strike, hit a two-run blast. Now trailing by only a run, Imanol Vargas, in a two-strike count, tied the game with one swing.

The Captains were unable to score the winning run from second in the ninth, and neither team was able to score in the tenth inning.

Ismael Alcantara would pinch run for the Loons catcher, Max Hewitt, at second base to begin the eleventh. Zach Hart would strike out Eddys Leonard in the first at-bat, but it was a dropped third strike. Zac Fascia picked up the ball and fired to first for the out. Alcantara would make the break for third, and Joe Naranjo would deliver an errant throw under the glove of Gabriel Rodriguez. Alcantara would come home to give the Loons the lead, 5-4.

Lake County would walk twice to load the bases in the bottom of the eleventh inning. With two outs, Connor Kokx would battle in a ten-pitch at-bat that ended in a strikeout on the fourth pitch with the count full.

Game four of the series between the Captains and Loons is tomorrow, Friday, August 5. There will be fireworks following the conclusion of the game, courtesy of Meijer.

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