EASTLAKE, Ohio – In Game 4 of a six-game series, the Lake County Captains (53-43, 16-16) fell to the South Bend Cubs (58-38, 20-14) by a final score of 15-7 on Friday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.
The loss marks the fourth time this season in which Lake County has dropped three straight games, as the Cubs bludgeoned the Captains with a 15-run, 14-hit, four-homer effort.
South Bend raced out to a 9-0 lead thanks to a nine-run second inning, thanks to four extra-base hits in the frame. First, C Logan Poteet, MLB Pipeline’s No. 30 Cubs prospect, came through with an RBI single to start the scoring. Then, CF Kane Kepley, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 Cubs prospect, blasted a three-run home run. Three batters later, LF Jose Escobar, MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 Cubs prospect, hit a two-run double. Finally, the Cubs rounded out the avalanche with back-to-back homers from RF Kade Snell, MLB Pipeline’s No. 25 prospect, and SS Angel Cepeda, MLB Pipeline’s No. 24 Cubs prospect.
Lake County scored the next two runs after the Cubs’ onslaught. 2B Garrett Howe got the Captains on the board in the second with an RBI double before a solo shot in the third from SS Welbyn Francisca, MLB Pipeline’s No. 13 Guardians prospect, made it a 9-2 game. This marked Francisca’s third long ball in this week’s series.
The Cubs struck once more in the sixth, tacking on another run with a line-drive home run from 3B Matt Halbach. South Bend eventually made it a three-run frame with a two-run single from 2B Ty Southisene, MLB Pipeline’s No. 13 Cubs prospect.
The Captains answered with one run in the home half of the inning, as Howe came through once more with a solo home run, his second homer of the year.
Lake County kept the pressure on in the seventh, striking for four runs in the frame. A fielding error allowed 3B Jeffrey Mercedes to score before Howe collected his third RBI hit of the night, a two-run single. Finally, a sacrifice fly from LF/CF Esteban González cut the Captains’ deficit to 12-7.
Lake County’s momentum was extinguished, however, after a three-run eighth by the Cubs. The inning featured a two-run double from 1B Josiah Hartshorn, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Cubs and No. 60 MLB prospect, and an RBI double from Escobar.
RHP Nate Williams (W, 4-0) earned the win for South Bend, allowing one run on two hits in 2.1 innings of relief, throwing three strikeouts and walking three. LHP Jackson Humphries (L, 1-5), MLB Pipeline’s No. 27 Guardians prospect, suffered the loss for Lake County. The portsider surrendered six runs on four hits in 1.1 innings, issuing four walks without a strikeout.
Game 5 of this week’s six-game series between the Captains and Cubs is scheduled for Saturday night, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m. Lake County will continue to celebrate State Fair Weekend presented by Ohio Mobile Gaming, as well as National VFR Day and Joe Torre Safe at Home Night. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Mokoro the Bat Dog Jersey presented by Glass Doctor, and the Captains will host a postgame fireworks show presented by the VFR Foundation. 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.
NOTES TO KNOW
- INF Garrett Howe logged a pro career-high four RBI on Friday night, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. The 2024 11th-round pick out of Samford has 10 RBI over his last eight games.
- INF Welbyn Francisca hit his ninth home run in his 37th game for the Captains this season on Friday night. The 20-year-old hit three home runs in 98 games for Single-A Lynchburg (now Hill City) last year.
- OF Esteban González drew a pair of walks on Friday night. The Maracaibo, Venezuela native logged a .425 on-base percentage in 20 games during the month of July.
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.