The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Push in late innings lifts Loons over Captains
It was that kind of afternoon at Classic Park in Eastlake. Memorial Day. Baseball. Day game. Picture-perfect weather. Hannah Robinson of Cuyahoga Falls rendering beautiful versions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.”
Jeanette King of Painesville meticulously charting every at-bat on her score card.
Alas, for fans of the Captains, the outcome was the only cloud in the otherwise brilliant blue sky.
The Great Lakes (Mich.) Loons dialed long distance three times on May 28 en route to a 14-5 victory over the Captains.
Supplying the home run power for the victorious Loons were designated hitter Carlos Rincon, first baseman Mitchell Hansen and second baseman Brandon Montgomery.
Lake County starter Kirk McCarty was solid through five innings, yielding only one run in the top of the fourth inning. The Loons erupted for four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Rincon’s three-run shot extended the lead to 4-0. Hansen upped the count to 5-0 with a solo blast that ended the day for McCarty. He was relieved by Riley Echols.
The Captains answered with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Todd Isaacs led off with a triple off Great Lakes reliever Riley Ottesen. He scored on Jesse Berardi’s double to get the Captains on the board. Berardi scored on a wild pitch. Ottesen gave up walks to Will Benson and Oscar Gonzalez before leaving the game with what was described as an injured arm. He was replaced by Austin Hamilton.
Lake County third baseman Nolan Jones welcomed Hamilton with a three-run home run that evened the count at 5-5.
It was all downhill from there for the home team. The Loons added two runs off Echols (1-2, 4.50 ERA), who absorbed the loss,. Then came seven more runs off three Lake County relievers. Montgomery’s solo home run came in the top of the ninth inning.
“We swung the bats well, but this one just got away from us at the end,” Captains manager Luke Carlin said.
The Captains slipped to 21-30 with their third straight loss and eight loss in the last 10 games. They are on the road for a sixgame trip that begins on May 29 against the Lansing (Mich.) Lugnuts. Their next home game is on June 5 against Dayton.
The Loons improved to 16-32.