(Eastlake, OH) - Will Benson had a monster day at the plate on Wednesday and lifted the Lake County Captains (24-35) to an 8-5 win over the Dayton Dragons (29-28) at Classic Park. On the day he was named to the Midwest League All-Star Team, Benson drilled a pair of
(Eastlake, OH) - Will Benson had a monster day at the plate on Wednesday and lifted the Lake County Captains (24-35) to an 8-5 win over the Dayton Dragons (29-28) at Classic Park. On the day he was named to the Midwest League All-Star Team, Benson drilled a pair of homers, including a grand slam, to help the Captains capture their second straight game.
The Captains set the tone in the first inning. Mike Rivera hit a one-out single to start the rally against Dragon starter Adrian Rodriguez. Ernie Clement then reached on an error by shortstop Jose Garcia and the Captains loaded the bases when Oscar Gonzalez hit a chopper to third and Leandro Santana's throw to second base was wild and late. Jonathan Laureano opened the scoring with a single to right field that plated Rivera, but Benson dealt the big blow. With the bags full and one out, Benson smashed a deep drive to right-centerfield. The clout cleared the wall for the Captains' first grand slam of the year, giving Lake County an early 5-0 lead.
The top of the order added another run in the second inning. Leadoff batter Tyler Friis started the frame with a single and Rivera worked a walk. The runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch and Gonzalez punched a single into right field that brought home Friis. The Captains grabbed a 6-0 lead.
Two innings later, the Captains got blast from an unlikely source. Clement had not homered in his first 88 professional games, but the shortstop connected with two outs and nobody aboard in the fourth. Clement hit a fly ball to left that soared into the bleachers to give the Captains a 7-0 advantage.
Lake County starter Gregori Vasquez had a comfortable lead and was cruising. The right-hander had not allowed a single hit through four innings and began the fifth under 40 pitches. Vasquez had allowed one baserunner on an error, but was otherwise perfect with no walks and two strikeouts. The fifth, however, spelled trouble.
Hendrik Clementina promptly broke up Vasquez's no-hit bid by poking a leadoff single to right to begin the fifth. After John Sansone lined out to right, Miles Gordon hit a hot-shot to first base. Laureano, playing first for the first time this year, made a stellar diving stop to his left and fired to second. The throw, however, hit the runner. Clementina ran to third and Gordon was safe on first. Santana then put Dayton on the board with a ground ball single through the shortstop hole that brought home Clementina. Garcia followed with a walk and Jeter Downs pulled a two-run double into the left field corner. Andy Sugilio followed with a high-hopping infield single that scored another run, as Garcia raced home. Finally, Michael Beltre capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored Downs. Dayton scored five runs - three earned - in that fifth inning to cut Lake County's lead to 7-5.
Vasquez quieted Dayton's bats after, as did reliever Cameron Mingo , and the Captains got one last insurance run from Benson. Leading off the eighth, Benson slammed a solo shot to right field against Wendolyn Bautista. The long ball marked Benson's 11th of the year, putting him into a tie with Cedar Rapids' Alex Kirilloff for the Midwest League lead. It was also Benson's second multi-home run game of the year and gave him a career-high five RBIs.
Vasquez (2-2) picked up the win. The right-hander pitched a career-high-tying seven innings and allowed five runs - three earned - on five hits. Vasquez struck out five and walked one. All of the runs and four of the five hits against Vasquez came in the fifth, meaning he tossed six scoreless innings out of seven. Mingo earned his second save, pitching two shutout innings and allowing two hits and no walks. The reliever struck out a pair.
Rodriguez (3-2) suffered the loss for Dayton. The Dragons' starter pitched 3.2 innings and gave up seven runs - six earned - on seven hits. He struck out five and walked one.
The victory gave the Captains their first series win since May 12 when they won the rubber game against the Quad Cities River Bandits. It snapped a six-series winless drought and a five-series losing streak. Lake County will go for their second sweep of the year on Thursday in the final game of the series against Dayton. First pitch at Classic Park is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Information about Classic Park or the Captains can be found online at www.captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-<st1:stockticker w:st="on">WINS (9467). Affordable ticket packages and group party and picnic options are available now.
