Captains crush Dragons 7-0

Dayton, Ohio (WDTN) - Lake County starting pitcher Shawn Morimando and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Captains defeated the Dayton Dragons 7-0 in the first game of a three-game series on Wednesday.  The Captains, who lead the five-team wildcard race in the Midwest League Eastern Division race, extended their advantage to five and one-half games over the Dragons with 19 games to play.  A crowd of 8,376 attended the game at Fifth Third Field.

Morimando (6-4) worked the first six innings to earn the victory.  He allowed only two hits with no walks and six strikeouts to beat the Dragons for the first time in his six starts against Dayton this season. 

Lake County scored one run in the top of the first inning and then added four more in the third to take a 5-0 lead.  Jerrud Sabourin had a pair of run-scoring singles and Jake Lowery added a two-run triple for the Captains.  They added one more in the fourth and then closed out the scoring with one run in the top of the ninth inning.

Dragons starting pitcher Jacob Johnson (1-5) worked the first four innings.  He allowed seven hits and six runs (five earned) with one walk and one strikeout to suffer the loss.  Carlos Gonzalez replaced Johnson and worked two scoreless innings, allowing no hits with one walk and three strikeouts.  Jimmy Moran made a strong return to the Dragons, working two innings and allowing no hits or runs.  He walked one and struck out two.  Lucas O’Rear tossed the final inning, giving up one run on two hits with a strikeout.

Dragons relievers posted another strong night, combining for five innings and allowing two hits and one run.  The Dragons bullpen has given up only one earned run over the last 21 innings covering five games.

All five Dragons hits were singles.  The club was shutout for the first time since July 11 when they lost 1-0 at Peoria.