EASTLAKE, Ohio – In Games 3 and 4 of a seven-game series, the Lake County Captains (69-57, 32-30) split a seven-inning doubleheader with the Great Lakes Loons (73-54, 37-26) on Friday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.
The Captains fell in Game 1 by a final score of 9-0 in seven innings, but took Game 2 by a final score of 5-4 in nine innings thanks to a walk-off two-run double from LF Juan Benjamin. Lake County has split all six of its doubleheaders played this season.
GAME 1
In Game 1, the Captains fell to the Loons 9-0 after being held to just two hits, while being shut out for the fourth time this year. Lake County’s only two hits of the ballgame were a pair of singles from RF Juneiker Caceres, MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 Guardians and No. 82 Guardians prospect, and CF Tommy Hawke in the second and sixth innings, respectively.
After a scoreless opening frame, Great Lakes struck first with five runs in the second inning, tagging Captains LHP Jackson Humphries for five runs in the frame. The onslaught was highlighted by a grand slam by DH Eduardo Quintero, MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 Dodgers and No. 20 MLB prospect, which came after three consecutive Loons baserunners reached with two outs.
Great Lakes scored the rest of their runs in the fifth, tallying another four runs in the frame. The scoring started with a bases-loaded walk drawn by 2B Nico Perez, MLB Pipeline’s No. 23 Dodgers prospect, before a two-run single by CF Jaron Elkins, MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 Dodgers prospect, drove in another two runs. The scoring concluded with an RBI groundout off the bat of 3B Eduardo Guerrero.
LHP Sterling Patick (W, 5-6), MLB Pipeline’s No. 24 Dodgers prospect, earned the win for the Loons, allowing just one hit in five scoreless innings, striking out six and walking two. Humphries (L, 1-7) suffered the loss for Lake County, giving up five runs on three hits in five innings of work, striking out seven and walking two.
GAME 2
In Game 2, the Captains secured a doubleheader split with a 5-4 win in nine innings courtesy of a walk-off two-run double from LF Juan Benjamin.
After both teams were tied 2-2 through seven innings, Great Lakes broke the tie in the ninth with an RBI single from 3B Jose Guerrero. Three batters later, with two outs and runners on first and third, Captains LHP Donovan Zsak nearly struck out Loons C Gio Cueto to end the half-inning. The left-hander, however, was called for a balk, which allowed the visitors to extend their lead to 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth.
Lake County then answered with three runs in the home half of the ninth to win the ballgame. Two batters after C Cannon Peebles drew a walk, RF José Pirela hit an opposite-field RBI double to cut the Captains’ deficit to 4-3. Benjamin immediately followed with his walk-off two-run double to give Lake County its second walk-off win of the series, joining Pirela’s walk-off solo home run on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Loons CF Eduardo Quintero hit an RBI single in the third inning for the game’s opening run. But the Captains promptly responded in the home half of the frame with an RBI triple from SS Dauri Fernández, MLB Pipeline’s No. 22 Guardians prospect, and a sacrifice fly from DH Anthony Martinez. Cueto eventually tied the game at 2-2 with a two-out solo home run in the fifth inning.
Zsak (W, 6-0) earned the win for the Captains, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits in two innings of relief, striking out three and walking one.
RHP Nicolas Cruz (L, 4-4) suffered the loss for the Loons, surrendering three runs (two earned) on two hits in an inning of relief, striking out one and walking one.
RHP Will McCausland (ND) did not record a decision for Lake County, throwing a pro career-high nine strikeouts in five innings of work. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits, walking one.
Game 5 of this week’s seven-game series between the Captains and Loons is scheduled for Saturday night, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. Lake County will host 9 Innings of Winnings Night with a postgame fireworks show at the ballpark, where the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Skipper Cavs Bobblehead presented by Consumer Tire. The festivities will also feature a pregame first pitch from former Cleveland Cavaliers star Daniel Gibson.
The game will be broadcast on the Bally Sports Live App, the MiLB App, and StreamGuys, with social media coverage courtesy of @LCCaptains on X and Instagram. For tickets, fans can visit MiLB.com/lake-county/tickets.
NOTES TO KNOW
- INF Dauri Fernández went 1-for-4 with an RBI triple in Game 2 of Friday night’s doubleheader. 11 of the 19-year-old’s first 13 High-A hits have gone for extra bases (seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs) in his first 13 High-A games.
- OF José Pirela went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Game 2 of Friday night’s doubleheader. The 20-year-old is batting .526 (10-for-19) with three doubles, three home runs, 19 RBI, eight walks to just four strikeouts, and a 1.837 OPS with runners in scoring position in his first 21 High-A games.
- INF/LF Juan Benjamin went 2-for-4 with a walk-off two-run double in Game 2 of Friday night’s doubleheader. The 23-year-old is batting .368 (7-for-19) with two doubles, one home run, six RBI, and a 1.061 OPS in his last five games.
- OF Juneiker Caceres went 1-for-2 with a single in Game 1 of Friday night’s doubleheader. The 19-year-old is batting .438 (7-for-16) with one double, three RBI, four walks, and a 1.091 OPS in his last five games.
About the Lake County Captains:
The Lake County Captains are the professional High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians located in Eastlake, Ohio. Our mission is to honor the rich history of our organization, while also introducing baseball to a new generation of fans through innovative means. We are committed to supporting our community, sports teams, and each other by demonstrating passion and having fun every day.