Eastlake – Will Dion is becoming a reliable starting option. The lefty put on another dominant performance for the Captains to beat the River Bandits 2-1 in game three of the six game series. Dion allowed a single to open the game, then retired the next 12 River Bandits before allowing his only walk of the game. That was followed by a single from Herard Gonzalez, and looked as if the River Bandits were gaining steam. Dion settled in and got out of the jam as Enrique Valdez grounded out to end the inning. A leadoff single at the top of the sixth made things again look rocky as it seemed maybe the River Bandits had Dion figured out, but again, a flyout and a double play ball ended the inning with no concern. Dion finished the night with six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, a walk, and three strikeouts with only 76 pitches.
Offensively, the game was slow until Christian Cairo hit an inside the park home run in the bottom of the fourth. In what was the first inside the park homer since June 28th last year, Cairo opened the scoring for the game. Cairo earlier in the game extended his on base streak to 16 games, which is the second longest streak by a Captains player this season.
THE FIRST EVER @nopec INSIDE THE PARK HOMERUN BELONGS TO CHRISTIAN CAIRO (@chriatiancairo2) pic.twitter.com/PBuJi2PVWM
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) June 2, 2023
In what was a rare relief appearance, Aaron Davenport entered the game for Dion in the seventh inning. Davenport retired the first 6 batters he faced. The Captains scored another run in the eighth inning as Yordys Valdez was hit by a pitch, advanced, stole third, and scored on a throwing error by the River Bandits. Davenport allowed a run when he walked leadoff hitter Jack Pineda, and followed with an RBI double from Javier Vaz, to put the River Bandits in position to make a run as the score was now 2-1. But Davenport retired the next three batters to make that the final score and earn his first save of his career.
Game four of the series will be Friday night. It will also be Friday Fireworks for the first time this season. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm.
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