Miniard lasts eight in 4-0 loss

(Eastlake, OH) - Micah Miniard pitched deeper than any Lake County Captains (16-24) starter this year, but the Lake County bats were held silent in a 4-0 loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps (27-14) on Friday night at Classic Park. Whitecaps starter Austin Sodders, along with relievers Joe Navilhon and Eduardo Jimenez, held the Captains to just two hits in game two of the four-game series.
Miniard was ultra efficient in his ninth start of the season. The right-hander only needed 79 pitches to get through eight frames and he threw over 65% for strikes. Despite his efficiency, though, the Whitecaps plated four runs against Miniard on a slew of extra-base hits. 

West Michigan tallied its first run in the second, but Miniard kept the damage to a minimum in what could have been a big inning. Blaise Salter doubled to lead off the frame and Josh Lester singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Miniard then induced a double play off the bat of Cole Bauml. Salter scored on the twin-killing, but the bases were cleared and Miniard struck out Anthony Pereira to end the inning.
The Whitecaps scored two more in the third. Austin Athmann doubled to start the third and moved to third on an infield single by Danny Woodrow that kicked off of Miniard's heel. Two batters later, Jake Robson laced a two-run, two-out double to give West Michigan a 3-0 lead. Cam Gibson put the final nail in the Captains' coffin with a solo home run in the fifth.
Miniard (1-4) lasted a season-high eight innings and allowed four runs on eight hits in the losing effort. The Captains' starter struck out three and did not walk a batter. Of the eight West Michigan hits against Miniard, five were doubles and one was a home run.
Sodders (5-0) shut down the Captains for the third time this year in a two-hit effort over six innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one batter. Sodders has now shutout the Captains over three starts and 17 innings. Sodders has fanned 25 Captains and surrendered just eight hits in his three wins against Lake County.
The Captains and Whitecaps have split the first two games of this series and will square off again on Saturday night. Saturday is another Saturday Fireworks Night presented by Monreal Funeral Home and Cremation Service. First pitch is at 6:30PM. New for 2017, fans will be allowed to enter the ballpark on Saturday night fireworks games two-hours before first pitch, or 4:30 PM. Saturday is the first night of Halloween at Classic Park. Fans are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. The ballpark will be decorated for Halloween and there will be candy available for the trick-or-treaters.
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). Full season tickets plans, 12-, 20-, and 35-game mini ticket plans for the 2017 season are on sale now at great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.