Snappers Snap Losing Streak, Take Opener

Anthony Churlin, Logan Farrar and Jesus Lopez all had two-hit nights, and Austin Beck drove in a pair, as the Beloit Snappers (10-12) snapped their five-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Lake County Captains (12-14) Friday night at Classic Park.

Timely hitting, and great pitching set the stage for the Snappers to end their five-game skid as the Snappers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Austin Beck started the scoring for the Snappers plating Anthony Churlin, who walked to lead off and was moved to third on a Trace Loehr double, on a sacrifice fly to give Beloit the early 1-0 lead. Logan Farrar then cracked a run-scoring single to right-field plating Loehr to give the Snappers a 2-0 edge.
Snappers starter Jared Poché took the mound with a 2-0 lead in hand, striking out two of the four batter he saw in the opening frame. Poché then struck out the side in the second inning, erasing a two-out walk to Jonathan Laureno by striking out Jose Vicente to end the inning.
The southpaw surrendered just one earned run in the bottom of the third inning, as Jorma Rodriguez singled home Todd Issacs on a line drive to center field. The Louisiana State University product did not factor into the decision, as he tossed just 4.2 innings, allowing the one earned run on four hits while walking five batters and striking out seven.
Poché gave way to Jesus Zambrano out of the bullpen, and the right-hander struck out three batters over 2.1 innings, as he allowed just two runs on four hits while walking just one batter.
The Snappers extended their lead to 4-1 in the top half of the fifth inning, as Churlin tripled to center to score Jake Lumley, and Beck followed by plating Churlin with a base hit to right field.
Zambrano surrendered his two runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Isaacs grounded out to short to score Laureano and Nolan Jones later plated Vicente on a base hit up the middle to draw within a run of the Snappers, as the Captains trailed 4-3.
Churlin notched a key insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, as he scored on a wild pitch with Beck batting to up the Snappers lead to 5-3.
Nick Highberger then came on to toss the final two innings, as the right-hander did not yield a run and struck out a batter while only giving up two hits. Highberger picked up his first save, and Zambrano was credited with his third win of the year.
Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. CST. The Snappers will send left-hander Ivan Andueza (0-0, 2.49) and the Captains will send right-hander Gregori Vasquez (1-1, 2.57).
The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and have been the Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics since 2013. For more ticket information, contact the Snappers office at (608) 362-2272 or on our website, www.snappersbaseball.com.