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Dayton outlasts Captains in see-saw battle

Bryan Lavastida drove home three of the Captains' four runs in a 5-4 loss on Wednesday at Dayton. (Joe Bojc)
July 28, 2021

(Dayton, OH) – The Lake County Captains (39-35) fell 5-4 to the Dayton Dragons (40-33) in a game that featured three lead changes on Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark.

(Dayton, OH) – The Lake County Captains (39-35) fell 5-4 to the Dayton Dragons (40-33) in a game that featured three lead changes on Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark.

Dayton took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning. With one out Garrett Wolforth hooked a ground ball down the first base line into the Captains’ bullpen. With the ball sitting under the bullpen bench, Wolforth made it all the way to third base for a triple. Victor Ruiz drove in Wolforth with a high fly ball to center that was tracked down by George Valera for a sacrifice fly to put Dayton on top 1-0.

The Captains grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Aaron Bracho singled to begin the inning, but was later forced out at second base on a grounder to shortstop by Cody Farhat. Farhat replaced Bracho on first and then stole second base. After Dragons starter Eduardo Salazar walked Brayan Rocchio, Dayton called on right-hander Matt Gill. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, and Bryan Lavastida delivered. Lavastida ripped a grounder up the middle. Farhat scored from third and Rocchio scored when center fielder Michael Siani let the ball roll under his glove. The single and error put the Captains in front, 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh Dayton took the lead back. Michael Siani walked with one out. Then Francisco Urbaez ripped a double to the left center gap. Siani scored all the way from first. On a Wolforth groundout Urbaez advanced to third and with Ruiz batting a wild pitch allowed Urbaez to score and give Dayton a 3-2 lead.

Lake County tied the score in the top of the eighth. Three walks loaded the bases with one out for Lavastida. He launched a deep fly ball to center field that was tracked down, but was deep enough to drive in Bracho and even the score at 3-3.

The Dragons answered again in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead back. A walk, a double by Miguel Hernandez, and another walk loaded the bases with nobody out. The Captains induced a ground ball to first base that Joe Naranjo fired home for the first out of the inning. With one out Jacob Hurtubise smoked a double down the right field line that brought Hernandez and McGarry home to put Dayton on top 5-3.

In the top of the ninth, José Tena smacked a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning and bring the Captains within one run, down 5-4.

John Ghyzel (2-0) registered the win out of the bullpen for Dayton. He allowed one run in one inning with three walks and a strikeout.

Kevin Kelly (1-3) was handed the loss for the Captains. He allowed two runs in the eighth inning on two hits, one walk and a strikeout.

Francis Peguero (5) earned the save in the ninth inning for Dayton. He allowed one run on the Tena home run in his only inning.

Z**ach Draper** gets the start for the Captains in game three of the six-game series in Dayton. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark.

A**bout 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.