Sabourin helps Captains slay Dragons
|
July 30, 2012
|
EASTLAKE – The Lake County Captains snagged their second-straight win from the Dayton Dragons with a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Left-hander Shawn Morimando (4-3, 3.51) took the wheel for the Captains as he started against Dayton righty Stalin Gerson (5-7, 4.27).
Dayton struck first as they plated a runner in the first when designated hitter Spencer Dickinson drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a throwing error by Captains’ catcher Jake Lowery on a wild pitch. Dickinson went on to score on a groundout by right fielder Yorman Rodriguez, giving Dayton the 1-0 lead.
The Captains answered in the second inning on a solo home run by Lowery, his second of the season, to level the score at 1-1.
The Dragons followed with another run in the third as Dickinson drew another walk and scored on a double by Rodriguez.
Morimando lasted four innings before he was replaced with lefty Kyle Petter to start the fifth. Morimando’s final line posted at four innings, yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits, a trio of walks and four strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Gerson made it through five innings, allowing one run on five hits while fanning five. Gerson was replaced with Ryan Kemp, whom the Captains jumped on in the sixth.
With one out, first baseman Jerrud Sabourin singled up the middle and right fielder Bryson Myles followed with a line-drive double to left. Sabourin scored on Lowery’s second hit of the day and designated hitter Todd Hankins plated Myles on a fielder’s choice, putting the Captains ahead 3-2.
After Petter tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, Lake County tacked on one more in the seventh as shortstop Francisco Lindor drew a one-out walk and scored as Sabourin lined a double to left, advancing the Captains’ lead to 4-2.
Dayton drew blood once more in the eighth against Captains’ reliever Manny Carmona as Dickinson drew his third walk of the day and Rodriguez singled to left. After first baseman Sean Buckley lined into a double play that removed Dickinson from the base paths, second baseman Ryan Wright doubled into the left field corner to score Rodriguez and bring the Dragons within one.
The one-run lead was enough for Captains’ closer Jeff Johnson, who entered the game for the ninth to convert his 15th save of the season and secure the Captains with the 4-3 win.
The Captains are presently one game out of the wild card, but manager David Wallace said he doesn’t really think about playoff potentials.
“Just for the fact that the family asks when I’m going to be home,” he joked.
Wallace also said that he monitors the league standings, but noted they are not the focal point of the organization.
“I look at the standings every day,” he said. “I know where we’re at. I know how many games we’re out, but that’s not a focus of ours. As long as these guys are getting better, then we’ve done our job as a staff.”
Next, the Captains will send right-hander Mason Radeke (5-5, 3.80) to the bump against Dayton righty Jacob Johnson (1-3, 5.37) in the final game of the series. Radeke surrendered two runs in six innings during his last outing against the West Michigan Whitecaps, though he has not received a win since June.
Stephanie is an undergrad at Cleveland State University double-majoring in Journalism and Public Relations. You can follow her on Twitter @SKMetzger or email her at SKMetzger24@gmail.com.
