
Francisco Mejia hit a grand slam for the Lake County Captains on Wednesday. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)
There were four early games in the Midwest League on Wednesday, highlighted by a pitchers’ duel and a slugfest — both of which went into extra innings.
At Fort Wayne’s Parkview Field, the Lugnuts and the TinCaps engaged in a 10-inning contest in which Lansing came out on top, 1-0. Lugnuts starter Jon Harris struck out 11, walked one, and gave up four hits in seven innings. TinCaps starter Logan Allen pitched four innings, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out four.
Lugnuts pinch-hitter Ryan Hissey drove in the game’s only run in the top of the 10th, off TinCaps reliever Gerardo Reyes.
At Lake County’s Classic Park, the Captains rallied from a five-run deficit in the 8th inning and walked off with an 11-10 win in the bottom of the 10th.
Trailing 9-4 in the 8th, the Captains pulled within a run when Francisco Mejia hit a two-out grand slam — the Cleveland Indians prospect’s first home run of the season. The Dayton Dragons added a run to their lead in the top of the 9th, but Lake County tied the score in the bottom half on a two-run double by Yonathan Mendoza. Then, in the bottom of the 10th, the Captains won it on an RBI double by Martin Cervenka.
Earlier in the game, Tyler Stephenson hit a grand slam for the Dragons. The Cincinnati Reds prospect went 3-for-6 with 5 RBI, while Lake County’s Connor Marabell went 4-for-5 with a walk, a double and three RBI.
At West Michigan’s Fifth Third Ballpark, Bowling Green starter Henry Centeno improved to 5-0 with a league-leading 0.68 ERA after helping the Hot Rods beat the Whitecaps 6-2.
Centeno struck out eight, walked one, and gave up four hits in five scoreless innings. West Michigan’s Will Maddox went 3-for-4, with one hit coming off Centeno.
At Kane County’s Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, the Chiefs beat the Cougars 5-3. Peoria’s Magneuris Sierra drove in two runs, and KC’s Jason Morozowski went 3-for-4.