Captains’ errors help TinCaps win

The Lake County Captains hit three home runs, starter Luis Jimenez struck out 11 and walked none but five errors condemned the Captains to a 5-4 loss against Fort Wayne on June 13.

Fort Wayne hit a pair of solo home runs to complement a sixth inning when the TinCaps scored a pair of unearned runs. Lake County manager Larry Day looked no further than his team’s defensive miscues in determining the loss’ case.

“We didn’t catch the ball in the air,” Day said. “We didn’t field the ball on the ground, we didn’t throw the ball great to second base from behind the plate, two errors out of our third base position.”

Jimenez allowed three runs — two unearned — and four hits in six innings. Jimenez’s 11 strikeouts matched his total from the 9 1/3 innings pitched over his first two outings, a span in which he also walked six.

The right-hander managed sequences better in his third start by pitching effectively inside with his fastball. As a result, opposing hitters couldn’t key on the slider away that Jimenez used to wipe out hitters.

Day said Jimenez also kept the ball lower in the strike zone more than in his previous outings.

“He gave us a great chance to win,” Day said. “That was as good as he’s thrown all year.”

Hudson Potts led off the second with a solo home run for a 1-0 TinCaps lead. Miguel Eladio beat out an infield single with two outs, which allowed Logan Ice to tie the game in the third. Emmanuel Tapia’s 12th home run, then Conner Capel’s 10th led off the Captains’ fourth to put Lake County ahead 3-1.

The TinCaps capitalized on two Captains errors in the sixth to score two unearned runs and tie the game. Reinaldo Ilaraza singled with one out, stole second and took third on a throwing error by Captains catcher Li-Jen Chu. He scored on an error by first baseman Eladio, and Brad Zunica’s double tied the score at 3-3.

Nate Easley led off the seventh with a single and Ilaraza sent the go-ahead run home with a base hit to center. Junior Soto’s twoout, solo home run to left in the home half knotted the teams again at 4-4.