Valdes Walk off Completes Captains Three Run Ninth, Magic Number Is Now One
September 9, 2022 – Midwest League (MWL) – Lake County Captains News Release
(EASTLAKE, OH) – The Lake County Captains (75-53) strung together five hits and scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, capped by a Yordys Valdes’ single which completed walk-off win number six of the season and a 6-5 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (50-79) on a gorgeous Friday night at Classic Park.
The magic number is now one for the Captains. Lake County needs just one win in their final two games to clinch a playoff berth. A West Michigan loss would also give the Captains a postseason spot.
Tommy Mace was excellent on the mound. He struck out seven TinCaps over his first five innings, permitting only one baserunner.
The Captains offense added support in the fifth inning. Petey Halpin began with a single, Connor Kokx walked, and with two outs, Yordys Valdes continued the inning with a single that deflected off the Fort Wayne starter Jose Espada. Milan Tolentino with the bases loaded and a 3-2 count, rifled a ball to left-center to clear the bases, a three-run double.
The TinCaps would respond to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Albert Fabian put one on the right-field lawn, a solo homer. After allowing a single and gaining an eighth strikeout, Mace’s night came to an end. Davis Sharpe came on in relief and after a strikeout allowed the equalizer a two-run homer by Anthony Vilar.
In the eighth and ninth, Fort Wayne posted two runs. In the eighth, came a solo home run from Justin Farmer off Sharpe, and in the ninth, a throwing error scored Jarryd Dale, with Trey Benton on the mound.
Lake County was down two entering the ninth. Alexfri Planez led off the inning with a missile to left-center field, a solo homer, his 19th of the year. Petey Halpin swung at the first pitch faced and put it into right field. Connor Kokx followed with a line drive that deflected off the glove of third baseman Justin Diaz, and into left field. Cesar Idrogo then stepped up and knocked an infield single up the middle to score Halpin and tie the game.
With runners on the corners and one out, Yordys Valdes entered the left-hand batter’s box and smacked a ball to left field that went off Charlis Aquino’s head and brought Kokx across home to win the game.
The fifth game of the six-game series is tomorrow Saturday, September 10th at Classic Park. The first 1000 fans will receive a Picantes Pepper Bobblehead courtesy of Sysco. There will also be Saturday Night Fireworks presented by Excalibur Auto Body and Super-mega-prize-a-thon, where prizes can be won without leaving your seat.
Coverage of the game can be found on WJCU.org/Captains and the MiLB First Pitch app.
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