Cotton homers twice to top Lake County

(Eastlake, OH) – The Lake County Captains (14-15) fell 15-4 to the Dayton Dragons (16-13) on Saturday from Classic Park.

Dayton got on the scoreboard in the top of the first. A one-out double for Quincy McAfee got Dayton a base runner. He moved to third on a single by Alex McGarry and scored the first run on a single from Quin Cotton to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead.

The Dragons added to their lead in the second on five straight hits. James Free, Victor Ruiz and Jonathan Willems all singled to load the bases. Then back to back doubles from Jacob Hurtibise and McAfee plated four runs to extend the Dragons lead to 5-0. Cotton came to the plate and collected his second RBI single of the game to drive home McAfee. With two outs Miguel Hernandez added a double to right field that brought home Cotton and gave the Dragons a 7-0 lead.

After two strikeouts to start the third Hurtubise, McAfee and McGarry all singled to add another to Dayton’s lead. Then Cotton connected for a three-run home run to make the score 11-0, Dragons.

The Captains scratched across a run in the bottom of the fifth. Dayton starter Graham Ashcraft retired the first 13 men he faced, but Aaron Bracho broke up the perfect game and no-hitter with a one-out single to right field. Ashcraft then walked Jonathan Engelmann and a catcher’s interference put Victor Nova on first to load the bases. Daniel Schneemann hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Bracho to make the score 11-1, Dayton.

The Dragons added another run in the top of the sixth to make the score 12-1. After a two-out single for Victor Ruiz, three consecutive Dragons walked to push across a run.

Cotton started the seventh with his second home run of the night on a solo shot to right field. Francisco Urbaez followed with a double. He moved to third on an error from José Tena. James Free lifted a sacrifice-fly to right field that brought home Urbaez to make the score 14-1.

Lake County pushed across three runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 14-4, Dragons. Schneemann doubled to start the inning. Quentin Holmes walked and Will Brennan singled to load the bases. A Bryan Lavastida walk scored Schneemann, then a wild pitch brought home Holmes. A walk to Bracho loaded the bases, then another wild pitch allowed Brennan to score.

Dayton scored another run in the top of the ninth. Miguel Hernandez got hit by a pitch. He was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Free. A double by Willems got stuck in the left field corner allowing Free to score from first and extend the Dragons lead to 15-4.

Graham Ashcraft (3-1) tossed seven innings on the mound for the Dragons to earn the win. He allowed one run on two hits, with one walk and nine strikeouts.

Kevin Coulter (2-1) allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings to take the loss for Lake County. He allowed ten hits, no walks and struck out one.

Mason Hickman is scheduled to start for the Captains in the sixth and final game of the series against Dayton on Sunday. First pitch from Classic Park is set for 1:30 p.m.

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.