TinCaps Cap Captains Comeback, Boone K’s 12 in Six Inning Start

(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains (73-52) left six runners on base in the final three frames and fell just short to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (49-77) 6-5 on a cloudy Tuesday night at Classic Park.

With the West Michigan Whitecaps victorious tonight, Lake County has just a one-game lead over West Michigan in the second-half Midwest League East Standings. Five games remain this season.

Rodney Boone achieved a Captains season high striking out 12 batters tonight. The left-hander had two strikeouts in each of his six innings and ended each frame with a punchout. The 2021 Eighth Round Pick only permitted one run, a solo homer from Brandon Valenzuela in the fourth.

The Captains evened up the score, at one, in the fifth. Connor Kokx blasted a 370-foot longball off the left field bleachers, the only allowed run from TinCaps starter Bodi Rascon through six. Kokx now has seven dingers in 84 games.

The seventh inning is where the runs came. Zach Hart entered for Lake County, he allowed the game’s first walk to Cole Cummings who stole second, moved to third on a pitch in the dirt and scored on a single. After another walk, Albert Fabian launched a three-run homer to deep right field to make it 5-1 in the top of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Captains cut the deficit in half. With the bases loaded and one out, Cesar Idrogo, lined a ball to right-center to score both Alexfri Planez and Korey Holland who reached via singles.

After a scoreless eighth from Elvis Jerez, Justin Diaz clubbed a home run to deep right field in the top of the ninth. The only run permitted by Trey Benton.

Lake County was down 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. After two quick outs, Cesar Idorgo and Mike Amditis kept the hope alive with walks. Facing a 3-2 count, Yordys Valdes roped a single into left field to load the bases.

Milan Tolentino came up and put an infield single to the left side. A throw went to second base but did not end the game, instead, it became a two-run deficit. Joe Naranjo then earned walk number 80 on his year, to bring the score 6-5. Both runs came off Keegan Collett. The final at-bat saw Christian Cairo for the Captains and Wilton Castillo for the TinCaps, a pop up to short, ended the game.

Lake County and Fort Wayne will return to Classic Park for a 12:05 p.m. first pitch tomorrow Wednesday, September 7th. It will be the final $3 White Claw Wednesday for fans 21 and older.

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