EASTLAKE, Ohio – In Game 1 of a seven-game series, the Lake County Captains (68-55, 31-28) defeated the Great Lakes Loons (71-53, 35-25) by a final score of 4-3 on Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.
In a game that featured one tie and three lead changes, it was the Captains who earned the hard-fought victory, as RF José Pirela drilled a walk-off solo home run in the ninth. The win marked Lake County’s third walk-off home run of the year, all of which have come against Great Lakes.
Shaky Great Lakes defense aided the Captains in the affair, as three Loons errors led to three unearned runs for Lake County.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when the Loons took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly from 2B Nico Perez, MLB Pipeline’s No. 23 Dodgers prospect.
However, the Captains didn’t find themselves down for long, taking their first lead of the game in the home half of the frame. Two batters after DH Cannon Peebles reached on a fielding error by Great Lakes 3B Mairo Martinus, Pirela gave Lake County a 2-1 advantage with a two-out, two-run double.
As quickly as Lake County took the lead, Great Lakes grabbed it right back in the following inning, courtesy of a two-run home run from C Victor Rodrigues.
But the Captains responded in the bottom of the seventh, thanks in part to another Loons defensive miscue. After CF Tommy Hawke reached on another fielding error by Martinus, he then advanced to second on a balk from Great Lakes LHP Matt Lanzendorfer (ND). Moments later, 2B Dauri Fernández, MLB Pipeline’s No. 22 Guardians prospect, knotted the game at 3-3 after he hit an RBI double down the left field line.
Pirela eventually stepped up to the plate once more in the ninth. Like he did in the sixth, he changed the game with another clutch swing, winning the contest for Lake County with his walk-off solo shot.
RHP Cam Schuelke (W, 5-3) earned the win for the Captains, striking out a pair in two perfect innings of relief.
RHP Robby Porco (L, 5-2) suffered the loss for the Loons. After tossing a spotless eighth inning out of the bullpen, he surrendered his only baserunner of the night on the walk-off home run.
LHP Harrison Bodendorf (ND) turned in a stellar start for Lake County, throwing a High-A-best seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings of work.
Game 2 of this week’s seven-game series between the Captains and Loons is scheduled for Wednesday night, Sept. 2, at 6:35 p.m. Lake County will host Picantes Night at the ballpark, where the Captains will suit up as Los Picantes de Lake County for the final time this season. 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 José Pirela drove in three of Lake County’s four runs with a walk-off solo home run and a two-run double on Tuesday night. The 20-year-old is batting .323 with five doubles, five home runs, 19 RBI, and a 1.091 OPS in his first 18 High-A games.
- INF Dauri Fernández reached base three times on Tuesday night, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a single, a walk, and three stolen bases. Nine of the 19-year-old’s first 11 High-A hits have gone for extra bases (seven doubles, one triple, and one home run).
- 1B Anthony Martinez extended his on-base streak to 10 games with a walk on Tuesday night. The 2025 eighth-round pick out of UC Irvine is batting .375 with 15 hits, four doubles, five home runs, 14 RBI, and a 1.329 OPS during this span.
- LHP Harrison Bodendorf threw seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings on Tuesday night. The 2025 10th-round pick out of Oklahoma State has logged a 1.46 ERA over his last four starts.
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.