Resilient Captains top Dragons for fifth straight victory

Jul. 16—The Lake County Captains are rolling toward the All-Star break with a serious head of steam.

Even if the High-A Midwest League doesn't actually have an all-star game.

Behind a stellar pitching performance by Tommy Mace, clutch hitting in the late innings and a key defensive play by Alexfri Planez, the Captains beat the visiting Dayton Dragons, 5-2, in front of 3,458 fans at Classic Park on July 16.

The win extends the Captains' winning streak to five games heading into a July 17 game against Dayton — the last game before a four-day break for the Major League All-Star break.

PHOTOS: Captains vs. Dayton, July 16, 2022

"Guys are playing hard. We talked about that out in Fort Wayne," manager Greg DiCenzo said. "We've had a lot of close games. We got down and came back. We're super resilient. I'm super proud of the way they get knocked down and get right back up."

Resiliency was the key word on July 16.

The Captains' offense hit into double plays in each of the first three innings. But in the late innings, the clutch hits came in droves.

The Captains broke a scoreless tie in the sixth when Gabriel Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Petey Halpin. A short while later, Aaron Bracho hammered a homer to right that plated himself and Johnathan Rodriguez for the 3-0 lead.

"If you hit into double plays, that means you have a lot of traffic on the basepaths," DiCenzo said. "We had some traffic the first three to four innings. I kept telling the guys in the dugout to stick to the plan, keep getting on base and we're gonna get that big knock we're looking for."

The Dragons (44-41) narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the eighth when J.V. Martinez homered to left and with an RBI single from Tyler Callihan. But Davis Sharpe entered the game and stopped the threat. With the bases loaded, Dayton's Jonathan Willems hit a liner to right that Planez caught and threw a bullet to catcher Micael Ramirez for the inning-ending double play.

"That was the huge play of the game," DiCenzo said. "In the outfield, we work really hard on our throws. Obviously, you can't substitute a hand cannon like he has. You can throw it 150 MPH. But if it isn't accurate, it doesn't do you any good. But his throws are very accurate."

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Captains tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Halpin scored in Aaron Bracho's fly to center, and then Korey Holland singled in Johnathan Rodriguez to make it 5-2.

"We give up a run here or there, but find a way to answer in the bottom half of the inning," DiCenzo said.

Sharpe pitched a perfect ninth, including two strikeouts, to notch his second save.

Randy Labaut got the win in relief for the Captains. He relieved Mace in the top of the sixth in what was a scoreless game at that point.

Mace went 5 2/3 innings, scattering five hits, walking two and fanning six.

"I'm really proud of the way he competed tonight," DiCenzo said of Mace, who came in with an 0-4 record an 6.72 ERA. "He's been looking for that marquee start since he came back from his (leg) injury a few weeks ago."

The Captains and Dragons wrap up the series on July 17. The Captains will send Jack Leftwich (2-0, 0.00 ERA) against the Dragons' Joe Boyle (3-3, 1.87). First pitch is at 1 p.m.