CAPTAINS CAPTURE 2ND HALF PLAYOFF BERTH

(Eastlake, OH) - Jake Lowery had three extra base hits and Leonardo Castillo had three RBIs as the Lake County Captains clinched a Midwest League playoff berth defeating the Bowling Green Hot Rods 9-3 on Friday. The Captains are in the Midwest League playoffs for the second time in their three years in the league and fourth time overall including their seven years in the South Atlantic League. The Captains were the Midwest League Champions in 2010.

Bowling Green took the early lead in the top of the first inning. Kes Carter led off the ballgame with a double to center field. Carter advanced to third on a bunt single and later scored on a double play ground ball and the Hot Rods led the game 1-0.

Lake County tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jake Lowery doubled with two outs and scurried home when Leonardo Castillo doubled him home just one batter later. The ballgame was tied at 1-1. Bowling Green took the lead in the top of the fifth. Willie Argo doubled to right field and scored on a base hit by Cameron Seitzer and it was 2-1 Bowling Green. Lake County came back and tied the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth and the game was re-tied at 2-2.

The back and fourth game continued as BG regained the lead in the top of the sixth as Kes Carter singled home Ben Kline and it was 3-2 Hot Rods. Jake Lowery tripled down the right field line and was knocked in by Leonardo Castillo and the Captains tied the game once again in the bottom half.

Lake County scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. Jose Ramirez scored. Later in the inning, Francisco Lindor scored on a double by Bryson Myles and the score was 5-3 Captains. In the eighth, Lake County put their foot on the gas. Jake Lowery doubled and scored on another Castillo single. Later in the inning, the bases loaded Jerrud Sabourin hit a single and all three runners scored. Jose Ramirez scored from first on the base hit. The score was 9-3 Captains headed to the ninth.

LHP Danny Jimenez (2-4) started the game for the Captains and did not get a decision. Jimenez pitched five and two thirds innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Cody Penny (3-1) got the win after pitching two and one third scoreless innings. Penny allowed two hits and fanned three. Enosil Tejada pitched the ninth inning to preserve the win.

RHP Parker Markel (11-5) got the nod for the Hot Rods and did not get a decision. Stayton Thomas (1-4) took the loss. He pitched two and one third innings, allowing three hits, three runs, one earned. Austin Hubbard finished the game for Bowling Green and gave up all four earned runs in the one inning of work.

On Saturday, The Captains will travel to Lansing, Michigan to take on the Lugnuts and conclude the 2012 season. The Captains will send RHP Mason Radeke (7-6, 3.55) to the mound to face the LHP Justin Nicolino (10-4, 2.41) for Lansing. First Pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

The Lake County Captains are a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and play their home games at Classic Park in Eastlake, at the corners of State Route 91 and Vine Street. For more information on the Captains, please visit the team's official website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com.