Captains Can’t Convert on Late-Game Scoring Opportunities in 3-1 Loss to Lansing

EASTLAKE, Ohio – In the fourth of a scheduled six-game series, the Lake County Captains (32-30, 63-64) fell to the Lansing Lugnuts (29-35, 60-69) by a final score of 3-1 on Friday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.

This marks Lake County’s first loss in this series and first home loss in the month of September. With victories by the Fort Wayne TinCaps and West Michigan Whitecaps tonight, the Captains now sit three games back of Fort Wayne with two games remaining. Thus, the Lake County Captains have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.

Heading into the bottom of the 3^rd inning, Lake County trailed Lansing 3-0. Both teams then went scoreless until the bottom of the 8^th inning.

The Captains, though, had a strong chance to score in the bottom of the 7^th inning. Back-to-back infield singles from Yordys Valdes and Isaiah Greene put runners on 1^st and 2^nd base with one out. After a flyout from Junior Sanquintin, Nate Furman drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. However, Jake Fox, Cleveland’s No. 12 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, flew out to end the frame, leaving the bases loaded.

Lake County then began the home half of the 8^th inning with three consecutive singles from Chase DeLauter, Cleveland’s No. 4 and MLB’s No. 86 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Dayan Frias, Cleveland’s No. 25 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and Cooper Ingle. Ingle’s was an RBI single, which drove in the Captains’ only run of the night.

In the ensuing at-bat, Joe Lampe bunted a ball in the air to Lugnuts catcher CJ Rodriguez. Rodriguez could not make the catch, but Lampe was called out on batter’s interference. Yordys Valdes then grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

In the bottom of the 9^th inning, the next three Captains hitters struck out to end the game.

Captains starting pitcher Steve Hajjar (3-4) allowed three RBI doubles, the first two of which came in the top of the 2^nd inning. In consecutive at-bats, Lansing’s CJ Rodriguez and Casey Yamauchi both hit an RBI double on a two-out, two-strike pitch. One inning later, Lugnuts right fielder Colby Thomas hit Lansing’s third RBI double of the night.

In all, Hajjar pitched 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 earned runs, and 6 walks, while throwing 2 strikeouts in 84 pitches (40 strikes). The 23-year-old recorded his first loss in over a month.

Trenton Denholm and Lenny Torres Jr. then combined to pitch 5 scoreless innings of relief. Denholm pitched 4 innings, allowing 5 hits and throwing 3 strikeouts in 59 pitches (39 strikes). Torres Jr. pitched a scoreless 9^th inning, allowing one walk and throwing one strikeout.

First pitch for Game 5 of this week’s scheduled six-game series between the Captains and Lugnuts is scheduled for tomorrow night at 7:00 PM. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Captains 2010 Championship Ring Replica courtesy of Sysco. It will also be “Sausage Fest Saturday” at the ballpark. Coverage of the game can be found on both the Bally Live app and MiLB.tv, as well as through @LCCaptains on both X and Instagram.