Guardians Baseball Insider

July 22, 2015

Lake County Captains

Let’s take a trip in the way back machine to find some of the best Indians prospects never to make it with the Indians (and a couple who have) having a really good day back in 2015. Facing the Fort Wayne Tin Caps, Thomas Pannone (who was later traded to Toronto for Joe Smith and made his MLB debut in 2018) made the start and got off to a great one by striking out the three batters he faced in the first inning. Another fun fact on the opposite side, the third batter he struck out wasn’t with the Indians at the time (obviously), but is now as Franmil Reyes went down looking.

Pannone K’d one more to start the second before losing the no hitter and perfect game thanks to a single. This didn’t slow him down, however, as he finished off the inning without further base runners and struck out three again in the third.

In the bottom of the third, there was quite the excitement as the Captains looked to break the scoreless tie. David Armendariz (in his second to last season prior to his release and pictured at top) singled on a bunt back to the pitcher. He then stole second (one of just five in nine attempts in 2015), then took third on a wild pitch. With none out, he seemed a guaranteed run, but Greg Allen popped out to third in foul territory, the Armendariz was caught attempting a steal of home.

With the game still scoreless in the fourth, Pannone allowed a bunt single to start the inning, but caught his runner significantly earlier than the Tincaps had in the previous inning by picking him off at first. After skating around the danger, the Captains quickly dropped two outs in the bottom half. Yu Chang then walked, went to third on a Steven Patterson single and scored on a ground ball error by the third baseman with Martin Cervenka (now an Orioles MiLBer) providing the contact.

The TinCaps started the fifth with another single, but again Pannone worked around it after a failed sac bunt, fielder’s choice and another K. In the bottom half, we would have the final scoring of the game.

Allen singled and stole second to start the inning, then went to third on a sacrifice bunt attempt that turned into a single for Bobby Ison. Santander singled one in, then Taylor Murphy singled to bring home another.

Pannone finished his part of the game with a perfect sixth including one more strike out to end up with nine strike outs over six shut out innings. Justin Garcia relieved Pannone with a perfect seventh including another K of Reyes. He matched his feat in the eighth with another perfect inning and another strike out. In the ninth, Caleb Hamrick finished things out with one more perfect inning and one more strike out.

Offensive performer of this game was Ison with three hits, although like Santander, he would be released following the 2016 season. Also of note for Santander was that he was also caught stealing a second time in this game giving him three of his nine attempts for the season.