Scolamiero homers for only Captains run in 8-1 loss

(Eastlake, OH) - The Lake County Captains (27-26, 67-55) lost the rubber game of a three-game series to the South Bend Cubs (29-24, 66-55) on Friday night at Classic Park. For the second time in three games, Clark Scolamiero homered for the Captains' only run. Lake County lost, 8-1.

South Bend grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning, thanks in part to a pair of walks by Captains starter Alex Royalty . The right-hander walked Clayton Daniel with one out, gave up a single to Andy Weber and walked Nelson Maldonado to load the bases. Nelson Velazquez then hit a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Daniel for the game's first run.
The Cubs added three more runs in the third. Darius Hill led off with a single and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by Royalty. After Daniel worked a walk, Weber singled home Hill. Maldonado came up next and bounced a grounder to third. Raynel Delgado fired to second to force out Weber, but Jose Fermin threw wildly to first, allowing Daniel to score and moving Maldonado to second. Cole Roederer singled home Maldonado later in the inning to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.
Another Captains error helped the Cubs score another run. Maldonado worked a one-out walk and, two batters later, Roederer singled into right field. Maldonado tried to go from first to third and Scolamiero came up throwing, but the ball skipped past Delgado at third and Maldonado scored to stretch the Cubs' lead to 5-0.
Scolamiero connected with his second solo homer of the series in the fifth. Facing Cubs starter Derek Casey to lead off the frame, Scolamiero pulled a fly ball over the right field wall to cut the Cubs' advantage to 5-1.
South Bend added three more runs against reliever Luis Araujo in the eighth and ninth. Jake Slaughter led off the eighth with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a ground out by Rafelin Lorenzo. Andy Weber led off the ninth with a double, Araujo walked Roederer with two outs and Slaughter singled in Weber. Fidel Mejia then hit a grounder to second and Fermin yanked the throw into the Captains' dugout. Roederer scored on the error to give South Bend an 8-1 lead.
Casey (5-7) earned the win for the Cubs. The right-hander allowed just one run over seven innings. He struck out five, walked one and surrendered four hits.
Royalty (5-7) took the loss. He pitched five innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits. Royalty walked five and struck out four.
The Captains lost two out of three games to South Bend and will hit the road for a three-game series at the West Michigan Whitecaps on Saturday. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Individual game tickets for all Captains games are on sale at the Classic Park box office, online at captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Mini ticket plans for the 2019 season are still available for great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.