Hartson fans career-high seven in loss

(Lansing, MI) - Lake County Captains right-hander Brock Hartson turned in his second straight shutout start and struck out a career-high seven batters, but it was not enough for the Captains on Friday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. After Hartson left with a 1-0 lead, the Lansing Lugnuts scored a pair of runs against reliever Leandro Linares and Lake County lost, 2-1.

Hartson was on a roll from the beginning. In the third inning, the right-hander struck out the side in a one-two-three frame. Over the first five innings, he scattered just two hits and only allowed one man to reach scoring position. He then gave up one more hit and stranded a runner on second in the sixth.

The Captains' offense was not nearly as explosive as Hartson was dominant, but Willi Castro put the Captains ahead in the fourth inning. Sicnarf Loopstok singled with one out and stole second. With two outs, Castro doubled to the gap in left-center, scoring Loopstok to give Lake County a 1-0 lead.

For the second start in a row, Hartson exited the game with a 1-0 lead. He finished with six scoreless innings and just three hits allowed. Hartson issued just one walk and fanned seven Lugnuts. Also for the second start in a row, however, the bullpen relinquished Hartson's lead and he was stuck with a no-decision.

Linares came in for the seventh and walked the first man he faced, Connor Panas. After the right-hander struck out Carl Wise, he surrendered a single to Ryan Hissey to put runners on first and second. Justin Atkinson came up next and hit a soft grounder down the first base line. The ball barely bounced over the bag and into right field, scoring both Panas and Wise to give Lansing a 2-1 lead.

Linares made a heads-up play to derail further damage. Atkinson's grounder rolled into the Lansing bullpen and Connor Marabell threw home, but his relay throw sailed over the cut-off man. Linares backed up the play, caught the errant throw and fired to third to retire Atkinson trying to grab the extra base.

Lake County's offense almost came back in the eighth, but fell just short. Lansing starter Ryan Borucki stayed in to pitch the eighth, but gave up a single to Ordomar Valdez and a single to Nathan Lukes. With one out and two men aboard, Borucki struck out Loopstok, but then walked Marabell to load the bases. Andrew Case came out of the bullpen for the Lugnuts and got Castro to ground out to first to end the inning. Case then stayed in to pitch the ninth and worked a perfect frame to earn his first Midwest League save of the year.

Borucki (6-3) was dominant for the Lugnuts and earned the win. The lefty lasted 7.2 innings and threw 105 pitches, but only gave up one run on six hits. Borucki struck out six men and walked three. Linares (0-1) suffered the loss for Lake County.

The Captains have lost three straight and will try to stop the skid when they face Lansing again on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

Individual game tickets are on sale at the Classic Park box office, online at captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). 12-, 20-, and 35-game mini ticket plans for the 2016 season are on sale now at great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.