The spirits of Jobu and ‘Major League” were with the Captains Aug. 1 at Classic Park.
On a night when the team honored the 25th anniversary of the release of ‘Major League” and gave away Jobu bobbleheads, the Captains made like the resurgent Indians in the movie and cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods.
Fans got caught up in the spirit of the promotion, turning out in droves to grab one of the 1,500 bobbleheads passed out at the gates.
PHOTOS: Lake County Captains Cleveland Sports History Night
The paid attendance of 9,069 was the second-highest of the season.
Captains first baseman Nellie Rodriguez loves ‘Major League.” He closely identifies with the character of Pedro Cerrano, the Cuban-born slugger with prodigious power who struggles mightily to hit the curveball.
Jobu is the voodoo doll Cerrano keeps in his locker to ward off evil spirits.
‘I spoke to Jobu before the game and asked him to get me two hits,” Rodriguez said, smiling.
Demonstrating that life does sometimes imnitate art, the 20-year-old slugger from New York City went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Captains comfortably ahead, Rodriguez slammed a Cerrano-ish solo home run to right field. It was his 18th round-tripper of the season and raised his team-high RBI count to 62.
Captains starter and eventual winner Mitch Brown (4-8, 3.96 ERA) is another big fan of ‘Major League.” He loves the character of out-there relief pitcher Ricky ‘Wild Thing” Vaughn, played by Charlie Sheen.
Brown made like Wild Thing in the early going, hitting one batter with a pitch and walking four others. The promising 20-year-old right-hander buckled down, though, and got the outs he needed to keep the Hot Rods off the board through five innings.
‘I didn’t have my best stuff, but I gave my team a chance to win,” Brown said.
Although they were focused on winning the game and staying in the Midwest League’s second-half playoff chase, Brown said he and his teammates got caught up in the spirit of the evening.
It was also ‘Salute to Cleveland Sports History Night’ at the ballpark, with former Cavs star-turned-broadcaster Austin Carr joining ‘Major League” star Chelcie Ross and other notables in signing autographs on the concourse.
‘Our team was really getting into it,” Brown said.
Also shining bright for the Captains were second baseman Claudio Bautista (3-for-4, two RBI, two runs) and center fielder Clint Frazier, who had two hits and a nifty outfield assist when he threw out Bowling Green’s James Harris at third base in the top of the ninth inning.
The Captains improved to 19-20 in the second half. Bowling Green slipped to 16-24.
