EASTLAKE, Ohio – In Game 3 of a six-game series, the Lake County Captains (53-42, 16-15) fell to the South Bend Cubs (58-37, 19-14) by a final score of 11-8 on Thursday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.
The game marked a tale of two tapes for the Captains. Despite scoring eight runs on nine hits, they struck out 19 times in the contest while surrendering 17 hits and five home runs defensively.
After a scoreless first inning, South Bend got on the board in the second with back-to-back solo shots from CF Kade Snell, MLB Pipeline’s No. 25 Cubs prospect, and C Logan Poteet, MLB Pipeline’s No. 30 prospect.
Snell struck again an inning later, blasting a two-run shot to double the Cubs’ lead to 4-0.
Lake County plated its first runs of the game in the bottom of the third, when CF Jace LaViolette, MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 Guardians prospect, blasted a two-run double off the wall in center field to make it a two-run game.
An inning later, 3B Juan Benjamin tied the game with one swing of the bat, launching a two-run home run for his first homer with the Captains this year.
The long ball favored South Bend in the fifth, as 3B Matt Halbach connected on a solo shot to put the Cubs back in front 5-4.
The runs kept piling on for the visitors in the sixth, as South Bend plated three more in the frame. 1B Josiah Hartshorn, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Cubs and No. 61 MLB prospect, tripled in a pair before he was brought home on an RBI single from Halbach.
Hartshorn struck once more in the following inning, driving in another two runs for the Cubs with a two-run double. Lake County matched South Bend’s two-run seventh, as LaViolette blasted a two-run shot for his 17th home run of the season. The Cubs, however, answered again in the eighth with another homer from Poteet, a solo blast.
The Captains concluded the scoring in the home half of the frame, plating a pair on a Cubs balk, which allowed LF Esteban González to score, and an RBI single from DH Jonah Advincula.
RHP Brayden Spears (W, 6-2) earned the win for South Bend, allowing three runs on three hits in three innings of relief, throwing five strikeouts and walking two. RHP Ryan Degges (L, 0-1) suffered the loss for Lake County, surrendering five runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of piggyback relief, issuing five walks and striking out three. RHP Ethan Bell (S, 7) earned the save for the visitors, striking out the side in order in the ninth inning.
RHP Ben Lively (ND) did not record a decision in his second Minor League rehab start for the Captains, allowing two runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work, throwing two strikeouts and walking one in 36 pitches (24 strikes).
Game 4 of this week’s six-game series between the Captains and Cubs is scheduled for Friday night, July 31, at 7 p.m. At the ballpark, Lake County will celebrate State Fair Weekend presented by Ohio Mobile Gaming. The Captains will also host a postgame Fireworks Friday show presented by Portage Path Behavioral Health. 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
- OF Juneiker Caceres, MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 Guardians and No. 96 MLB prospect, reached base four times on Thursday night, extending his on-base streak to 28 games across Lake County and Single-A Hill City. The 18-year-old is batting .311 with 33 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 18 RBI, and a .947 OPS during this span.
- OF Jace LaViolette hit a two-run home run and a two-run double on Thursday night. The 2025 first-round pick out of Texas A&M is one of just two Midwest League players with at least 15 doubles, 17 home runs, and 66 RBI this season (also Quad Cities 1B/3B Derlin Figueroa).
- Captains hitters tied a season-high with 19 strikeouts on Thursday night. Lake County also struck out 19 times on May 30 at Beloit.
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.