Crushers go FOURTH
Six-run fourth inning paces Crushers in 8-5 win
AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers, presented by Mercy Health, erased an early 3-0 deficit by scoring six times in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s game at Sprenger Healthcare Stadium and came away with an 8-5 win over the Washington Wild Things.
The win for the Crushers (21-21) improved their record to 12-4 in series openers on the season, while the loss for the Wild Things (19-27) was their third in their last four games.
Washington scored first, plating a trio of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Cameron Baranek reached on a single to start the inning before Cody Erickson reached on Dale Burdick’s fielding error at third. Hector Roa drove Baranek home with a RBI double, before JJ Fernandez and Mikael Mogues recorded back-to-back RBI groundouts to give the Wild Things a 3-0 lead.
Lake Erie responded in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring six times on four hits, while sending nine batters to the plate to take the lead. John Cable reached on a walk to start the inning, and came around to score on Burdick’s RBI single to left. Bryan DeLaRosa followed Burdick with a walk to load the bases for Brody Wofford, who drew an eight pitch walk to bring in another run. James Davison Jr. then tied the game with a Sac Fly RBI to right, and Aaron Hill delivered the back-breaker, with a three run homer to left, his sixth of the season.
The Wild Things were held to just a hit in innings 5-7, before getting on the board again in the top of the eighth, when Brett Marr smashed a solo homer to left, his first of the season.
The Crushers answered with a long ball of their own in the bottom of the eighth, to take an 8-4 lead. Emmanuel Marrero reached on a walk to start the inning and Jake Vieth followed with a two-run homer to left, his fourth of the season.
Washington made things interesting in the top of the ninth. Saige Jenco reached on an infield single, then made his way to second on defensive indifference before scoring on Drew Bene’s RBI single. Marr then walked to put men on first and second, bringing the tying run to the plate. Logan Lombana was able to strike out Blake Adams to end the game.
Pat Ledet (2-3) picked up the victory after allowing four runs, only two earned on four hits while fanning five over 7.2 innings of work. Washington’s John Havird (4-3) took the loss after he allowed six runs on six hits over 3.2 innings of work.
Seven out of the starting nine reached safely for the Crushers, with Vieth and Burdick leading the way, each turning in two hit performances.
The Crushers will continue their three game series with the Washington Wild Things at Sprenger Stadium on Wednesday night. Lefty Jared Koenig (2-0, 2.47) will start for the Crushers and the Wild Things will counter with right hander Eric Morell (1-0, 4.80). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
Video: JULY 2 LEC VS. WASHINGTON TAKE 2
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