Loons homer twice to top Captains

(Midland, MI) – The Lake County Captains (10-6) suffered their second straight loss to the Great Lakes Loons (7-9) on Friday night at Dow Diamond. Andy Pages and Leonel Valera both homered for Great Lakes, as the Captains fell, 8-2.

The Loons grabbed a quick 1-0 lead two batters into the second inning. Joe Vranesh began the frame with a triple to centerfield. Taylor came up next and roped an RBI double to right-center. Captains starter Tanner Burns, however, retired the next three Loons on a strikeout and two flyouts.

Valera blasted a three-run home run in the fourth to extend the Loons’ lead to 4-0. After Andy Pages led off with a single, Vranesh replaced him on first when he bounced into a fielder’s choice. A walk to Taylor followed and then Valera launched a homer to left-centerfield.

Another homer expanded Great Lakes’ lead to 6-0. With two outs in the fifth, Burns gave up a ground ball single to Ryan Ward. Jared Janczak came in to relieve Burns and Pages greeted him with a two-run homer to right-centerfield.

Taylor, who also drove in three runs on Thursday night, delivered again for Great Lakes in the eighth. Pages began the frame with a single against reliever Kellen Rholl and Vranesh followed with a double. Taylor then singled to centerfield to plate both runners and push the Loons’ lead to 8-0.

The Captains tried to battle back in the top of the ninth inning. Will Brennan led off the inning with a walk and moved up to second base on defensive indifference. With two outs, Raynel Delgado came to the plate and belted a two-run home run to right field to spoil the shutout and cut the Loons’ lead to 8-2. Austen Wade and Daniel Schneemann both walked to extend the game, but a groundout by Mike Amditis ended the comeback bid for Lake County.

Jesus Vargas (1-2) threw six scoreless innings out of the Loons’ bullpen to pick up the win. The right-hander held the Captains to two hits, struck out five and walked one. Vargas rolled through six innings on just 54 pitches and ended his night by retiring the last 10 batters he faced.

Burns (0-1) was handed his first professional loss. He tossed 4.2 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. Burns collected three strikeouts and walked one.

Southpaw Matt Turner takes the ball for the Captains Saturday as they try to snap a two-game losing skid. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. from Dow Diamond.

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.