Royalty, explosive offense carry Captains in rain-shortened win
(Lansing, MI) – The Lake County Captains (33-28) needed fewer than six offensive innings to drive home eight runs and slam seven extra-base hits in a rain-shortened win over the Lansing Lugnuts (29-32) on Tuesday night at Jackson Field. Brayan Rocchio led the offense with a four-hit night and starting
(Lansing, MI) – The Lake County Captains (33-28) needed fewer than six offensive innings to drive home eight runs and slam seven extra-base hits in a rain-shortened win over the Lansing Lugnuts (29-32) on Tuesday night at Jackson Field. Brayan Rocchio led the offense with a four-hit night and starting pitcher Alex Royalty spun five shutout innings to beat Lansing, 8-0. The game was called in the top of the sixth due to inclement weather.
For the second time in the last five games Will Brennan led off the game with a home run. Following the Brennan blast, Rocchio punched a soft fly ball to shallow left center. Left fielder Lazaro Armenteros dove for the ball but it snuck under his glove and died in the grass allowing Rocchio to get to second with a double. He moved to third on a wild pitch, then Brayan Lavastida walked to put runners on the corners. Lavastida swiped second base with George Valera at the plate, but Valera struck out and José Tena flew out, unable to drive home two runners in scoring position. But with two outs, Joe Naranjo delivered an RBI single to right field that brought home Rocchio and Lavastida to put the Captains on top 3-0 in the first.
Lake County added another run against Lugnuts starter Seth Shuman to give them a 4-0 advantage. Victor Nova walked to open the frame, then with one out moved to second when Brennan got hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second Rocchio smacked a single up the middle to drive in Nova for the fourth Captains run.
A long ball extended the Captains’ lead in the fifth. After Rocchio doubled for his third hit of the night, Lavastida cracked a two-run shot over the 20-foot high wall in center to give Lake County a 6-0 lead.
More extra-base hits pushed the Captains’ advantage to 8-0. Nova started the rally with a triple to the right-center field alley and Quentin Holmes hammered a double off the base of the wall in right-center to score Nova. Later in the frame. Rocchio delivered his fourth hit of the game, an RBI single to left field, that plated Holmes to give the Captains an eight-run cushion.
The game went into a rain delay shortly after Rocchio’s RBI single. Lavastida walked and Valera took a first-pitch ball before home plate umpire Jen Pawol called for the Lansing grounds crew to roll out the tarp at 8:48 p.m. The game was later called due to inclement weather at 10:02, following a one hour and 14 minute delay.
Royalty (1-0) earned the win and picked up a rain-shortened complete game shutout. The right-hander pitched five innings and held the Lugnuts scoreless on just four hits. Royalty struck out three and walked one.
Shuman (1-3) took the loss. The Lugnuts’ starter allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits across five innings. Shuman struck out four and walked two.
Xzavion Curry starts for the Captains in game two of this six-game series at Lansing. First pitch at Jackson Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
About the Captains
The Lake County Captains are the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, visit the Captains’ website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CaptainsBaseball, Twitter @LCCaptains and Instagram @LCCaptains. Fans can also get the latest Captains news and offers by signing up for the Captains’ newsletter, The Anchor.