Davenport’s Complete Game, Lake County’s Four-Run Third Inning Result in 6-3 Win

EASTLAKE, Ohio – In Game 2 of a doubleheader and the finale of a five-game series, the Lake County Captains (19-21, 50-55) defeated the South Bend Cubs (18-23, 48-58) by a final score of 6-3 in 7 innings on Sunday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.

This victory marks Lake County’s fourth win in their last five games.

Captains starting pitcher Aaron Davenport (4-9) pitched the second complete game of his career, and Lake County’s first of the season. This was Lake County’s first complete game since Davenport’s 7-inning complete game shutout on September 4^th, 2022, which was in Game 1 of a road doubleheader against the Great Lakes Loons. The right-hander tied his career high of 7 innings pitched for his third consecutive start, as he allowed 3 hits, 3 earned runs, and 2 walks, while throwing 4 strikeouts in 96 pitches (61 strikes).

In the top of the 1^st inning, Davenport allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs courtesy of a pair of solo home runs from South Bend’s Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros. After Ballesteros’s home run, Davenport retired the next 13 Cubs hitters in order, which included 3 strikeouts.

The 23-year-old did not allow a baserunner until the beginning of the 6^th inning, when he issued his first walk of the night. Davenport then allowed another baserunner in the frame when Matt Shaw grounded into a fielder’s choice. Davenport also allowed a walk to begin the top of the 7^th inning.

This was eventually followed by a two-out RBI double from South Bend’s Luis Verdugo, Davenport’s first hit allowed since the top of the 1^st inning. However, the Captains’ right-hander threw his 4^th strikeout of the night to end the game.

After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the 1^st inning, Lake County scored their first 4 runs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, 10 Captains hitters made a plate appearance in the frame. Chase DeLauter, Cleveland’s No. 4 and MLB’s No. 91 prospect according to MLB.com, hit a double to extend his hitting streak to 6 games. This was immediately followed by an RBI groundout from Kahlil Watson, Cleveland’s No. 16 prospect according to MLB.com, which made the score 2-1.

Jorge Burgos then began a stretch of three consecutive Captains singles with a game-tying RBI single. Immediately after a Joe Lampe single, Yordys Valdes hit a go-ahead RBI single to give Lake County their first lead of the game at 3-2. Eventually, Junior Sanquintin drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the Captains’ lead to 4-2.

Then, in the bottom of the 4^th inning, Kahlil Watson hit a solo home run to make it a 5-2 game. This was his 9^th High-A home run of the season (2^nd with Lake County), and his first home run at Classic Auto Group Park as a Captain. One inning later, Nate Furman hit an RBI infield single to put Lake County ahead 6-2.

After an off day tomorrow, the Captains will begin a six-game home series against the Peoria Chiefs. First pitch for the series-opener on Tuesday night is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, where it will be “Guardians Appreciation Night.” Coverage of the game can be found on both the Bally Live app and MiLB.tv, as well as through @LCCaptains on both X and Instagram.