Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Lake Erie surrenders nine runs in the 9th inning in 13-10 loss

Box Link: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=542531

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers saw a 10-4 lead in the ninth inning of Saturday night’s game at Mercy Health Stadium wilt away, as the Evansville Otters scored nine runs in the ninth inning to come from behind and beat the Crushers, 13-10.

The Crushers (30-34) have now lost three out of their last four games while the Otters (41-23) remain unbeaten in five games against the Crushers this season.

Evansville put the Crushers in an early hole, plating four runs in the top of the first inning. Miles Gordon started the game with a single before walks were issued to the next two batters. Riley Krane then hit a Grand Slam over the wall in right, marking his second homer of the series and his 13th of the season.

Lake Erie answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. After Evansville starting pitcher Marty Anderson retired the first two batters of the inning, Trevor Achenbach walked on five pitches. Karl Ellison drove Achenbach home on a RBI double to the gap in right center and Ellison scored two pitches later on Isaac Benard’s RBI two bagger down the line in left.

The Crushers took the lead in the bottom of the second, when they sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six times on seven hits. Connor Oliver was hit by the second pitch of the inning to get it all started. Javier Betancourt followed with a single to put Oliver at third, and he scored on Eric Callahan’s infield single. Steven Kraft’s single to left loaded the bases for Shawon Dunston Jr. who tied the game with a run scoring single to right. Achenbach then delivered a bases clearing double down the line in right to give the Crushers a 7-4 lead. Benard drove Achenbach home later in the inning on a RBI single to center.

Another two out hit allowed the Crushers to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ellison reached on a fielder’s choice before stealing second base and he came around to score on Steve Passatempo’s two out RBI single to give the Crushers a 9-4 lead.

Lake Erie used the long ball to add to their advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning. Achenbach launched a solo homer to left, his 11th of the season to make it a 10-4 Crushers advantage.

The Otters were down to their final three outs when they erupted for nine runs on eight hits in the top of the ninth inning. Dakota Phillips and Gary Mattis started the inning with back-to-back singles and they both scored on Andrew Penner’s single to center. Later in the inning, J.R. Davis belted a two run single through the left side of the infield and Krane followed with a RBI double down the line in left. Andy DeJesus then reached on a fielder’s choice with allowed Davis to score the game tying run. Phillips followed with a run scoring double to left to give the Otters the lead and Mattis followed with a backbreaking two run double to the gap in right center.

Abraham Almonte (2-0) tossed two scoreless innings of two hit relief and fanned four to pick up the win while Logan Sawyer (18) worked a perfect ninth inning for his second straight save. J.T. Perez (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over two-third of the ninth inning.

Every Crusher hitter hit safely at least once, with Achenbach and Benard leading the way with three hits each. Achenbach came a triple away from hitting for the cycle. Dunston Jr. and Passatempo both hit safely twice.

The Crushers and Otters will finish their three game series at Mercy Health Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Lefty Ryan Feierabend (5-3, 3.82) will start for the Crushers and the Otters will counter with right-hander Ryan O’Reilly (3-1, 1.93). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.