Lavastida, Hickman drive Captains past Lansing

(Lansing, MI) – Bryan Lavastida contributed to all four runs and starter Mason Hickman spun 6.1 strong innings to help the Lake County Captains (36-30) defeat the Lansing Lugnuts (31-35) on Sunday afternoon. The Captains clinched a series victory with a 4-2 win at Jackson Field.

Lavastida put the Captains on the board first in the top of the fourth inning. After starter David Leal shut the Captains out over the first three innings, reliever José Mora came in and walked Lavastida to lead off the inning. José Tena hit a one-out double to put men on second and third. After Mora struck out Joe Naranjo for the second out, Lavastida made a daring baserunning play with Aaron Bracho at the plate. Lugnuts catcher Drew Millas blocked a pitch in the dirt and the ball skipped a few short feet in front of home. Lavastida broke for the plate and dove in ahead of Millas’ tag to give the Captains a 1-0 lead.

The Captains added to their lead in the sixth inning. Reliever Charlie Cerny hit Lavastida with a pitch to put the Captains’ catcher aboard with one out. Cerny then walked George Valera and Tena to load the bases and Naranjo brought Lavastida home with an RBI ground out to first. The Captains did not score again in the inning, but took a 2-0 lead.

Lansing pulled within one run in the sixth, but the Lake County defense dialed up a clinical relay to maintain the lead. Hickman walked Michael Guldberg with one out. After Austin Beck flied to left for the second out, Jordan Díaz roped a line drive to right-center. Captains center fielder

Cody Farhat dove, but the ball glanced off his glove and rolled to the wall. Guldberg scored, but Farhat retrieved the ball at the base of the wall. Farhat fired to Bracho, who relayed the ball to third where Tena tagged out Díaz to end the inning. The Captains held a 2-1 lead after six innings.

Lavastida delivered again in the seventh inning. Cerny walked Victor Nova to begin the frame. A wild pitch moved Nova to second and Will Brennan worked a walk. Brandon Withers came in from the bullpen to relieve Cerny and struck out Brayan Rocchio for the second out. Lavastida then ripped a line drive off the base of the left field wall. Nova and Brennan scored to give the Captains a 4-1 lead. Lavastida advanced to third when the throw home skipped away from Millas, but Withers struck out Valera to end the inning.

The Lugnuts made it a two-run ballgame again with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Guldberg reached with an infield single off of Captains reliever Nathan Ocker. Guldberg later stole second and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Díaz, which cut the Captains’ lead to 4-2.

Lansing threatened again in the ninth, but Jerson Ramirez closed out the win for Lake County. Cobie Vance singled with two outs and Millas followed with an infield hit, but Ramirez got Guldberg to pop out to Tena at third to end the game. Ramirez (3) picked up the save with the scoreless frame, which included one strikeout, two hits and no walks.

Hickman (4-5) earned the win after firing 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on six hits. The right-hander struck out four, walked two and hit one Lugnuts batter.

Mora (0-1) took the loss for Lansing. The right-hander pitched the fourth and fifth, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out three and walked two.

Following a day off on Monday, the Captains return home on Tuesday to begin a six-game series against the Great Lakes Loons. First pitch for game one at Classic Park is scheduled for 7:00m.

About the Captains

The Lake County Captains are the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, visit the Captains’ website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CaptainsBaseball, Twitter @LCCaptains and Instagram @LCCaptains. Fans can also get the latest Captains news and offers by signing up for the Captains’ newsletter, The Anchor.