Loons fall victim to some tough pitching in 4-2 loss to Lake County

The Great Lakes Loons (17-21) could not erase a 2-run deficit, ultimately falling 4-2 to the Lake County (OH.) Captains (Cleveland Indians) at Dow Diamond tonight. 

 

Lake County center fielder Todd Isaacs led off the top of the third inning with a 390-foot solo home run over the left field wall at Dow Diamond to take a 1-0 lead midway through the third. 

 

Captains right fielder Conner Capel roped a triple to drive in two runs in the top half of the fourth inning to extend the Lake County lead to 3-0 midway through four innings. 

 

The Loons began to rally in the bottom of the fourth when the first three batters loaded the bases with no outs, however, they would settle for just one run after a double play and another ground out to second base. 

 

Right fielder Cody Thomas led off with a double, which was followed up by a walk to third baseman Oneil Cruz, and Loons catcher Keibert Ruiz, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. 

 

Left fielder Mitchell Hansen hit into a 4-6-3 double play, however, Thomas was able to score on the play to cut into the Lake County lead 3-1 through four innings. 

 

The Loons continued its momentum into the bottom of the fifth inning when Saige Jenco led off with a triple to center field, then scored on a sac fly RBI by Lux to get to within 1-run (3-2) of Lake County. 

 

Lake County starter Brady Aiken (1-6, 4.50 ERA) who was once the No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2014 MLB draft before choosing not to sign and deciding to enroll at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL where he was then drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round, 17 overall, in the 2015 MLB draft, earned his first win for the Captains after giving up 2-runs on 6-hits and 3-walks, while striking out 2-batters through 5-innings tonight. 

 

The Captains managed to extend its lead in the top of the seventh inning when Rodriguez reached on a fielders choice, moved to third on a hard hit ball that was ruled as a hit to a diving Loons first baseman Luis Paz, who knocked the ball down, however, nobody covered first base on the play, leaving runners on first and third with two outs. 

 

After Loons reliever Vinny Santarsiero replaced starter Devin Smeltzer, Lake County second baseman Alexis Pantoja drove in Rodriguez to extend the lead to 4-2 midway through the seventh.

 

Smeltzer (2-2, 3.43 ERA) who was on the hook for the fourth Lake County run, was charged with the loss after giving up 4-runs on 7-hits and 2-walks, while striking out 4-batters through 6.2 innings. 

 

Lake County reliever Henry Martinez (1-0, 2.81 ERA) replaced Aikens and shut the Loons down, walking just one batter, while striking out 3-batters through 2-innings of relief. 

 

Santarsiero (3-0, 2.53 ERA) replaced Smeltzer, allowing 1-hit and 1-walk, while striking out 1-batter through 1.1-innings of relief. 

 

Loons closer Angel German struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning. 

 

The Loons will look to win the rubber match game against the Captains at 10:35 am tomorrow morning at Dow Diamond.