Slow start brings captains to disaster in a 5-2 defeat against visit to Lansing – Information-Herald

Opportunity hit a couple of times for the Lake County Captains in an August 7 game against the Lansing Lugnuts.

Unfortunately, the home team couldn’t answer as much as they would have liked.

The Captains beat the Lugnuts 8-5, but came up on the short end of a 5-2 score in the Classic Park.

“We had seven or eight hits. But at the end of the day we have to be able to get runs, ”said manager Greg DiCenzo. “We could have 25 hits, but if we only have 2-3 runs …”

The captains had many scoring chances but left nine runners on the base. They left two runners in both the third and eighth innings. Combine that with some bad luck and mismatched mistakes, and it’ll cost the team.

The captains (44-39) were down 3-0 early on due to bad luck and inappropriate mistakes.

A ball that could have been played in the first inning resulted in a Jared McDonald victim fly and a 1-0 Lugnuts lead. In the second game, a Balk and a pass helped another Lugnut rally to make it 3-0.

“We have to be ready to leave the gate,” said DiCenzo of the slow start. “It’s not just pitching, it’s our defense, our base running, our coaching. It has to be ready when the puck drops at 7am. Sometimes we miss a 7 o’clock start and think it’s 7:10 a.m. These 10 minutes could be of vital importance. “

After the slow start, Captains starter Hunter Gaddis was dialed in. He went six innings – the last four were goalless – went three and hit seven.

DiCenzo said he and Gaddis talked about mental strength, and Gaddis showed it that night.

“I don’t really reset per se,” said Gaddis. “It makes me angry and I hit better when I’m angry. As simple as that.”

The Captains closed the gap to 3-2 with a Joe Naranjo single in the third to score Julian Escobedo and a Quentin Holmes single in the fourth defeating Joe Donovan, who had tripled.

Donovan had two goals in the game. He said he has benefited from more playing time lately.

“I feel good,” he said. “Sometimes it’s pretty difficult to go out and get a rhythm when you only get three or four at-bats a week. The additional at-bats were estimated. I feel more comfortable. I’m having fun out there. “

The Lugnuts took the game almost out of reach in seventh place when Cobie Vance hit a double homer to make it 5-2.

The captains had runners on the corner in the eighth lap, but a bang too short to the right ended the rally.

The Captains went back 1-2-3 in the ninth game to end the game.

Shohei Tomioka (4-5) won after allowing a run in 3 1/3 innings from the bullpen. He allowed three hits with four strikeouts.

Gaddis (3-7) accepted the loss.

Brock Whittlesey registered the save for the Lugnuts. He hit the side in ninth, racking up four strikeouts in two innings. He allowed one hit.

Honored

Long-time News Herald writer David S. Glasier and Mentor’s 2021 League I State Championship girls’ athletics team were honored with induction into the Captains Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony.

PHOTOS: Captains vs. Lugnuts, August 7, 2021