Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Close Call at Home

Lake Erie falls short in 5-3 loss to Joliet

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/boxscores/20230624_9rjd.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning of Saturday night’s game at Mercy Health Stadium with two outs, but could not come through with a clutch hit to get past the Joliet Slammers, and fell, 5-3.

The loss for the Crushers (16-22) was their fifth in their last six games, while the victory for the Slammers (18-20) was their fourth in their last five.

Joliet fired the first shot in the top of the second inning. After Yasel Santana (2-3) struck out the first two batters of the frame, he walked Phillip Steering, who came around to score on Will Salas’s RBI double to left.

The Slammers added two more in the top of the third. Matt Feinstein reached on Gabe Snyder’s error at first to start the inning. Matthew Warkentin was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on with one out, and GJ Hill and Lane Baremore followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give Joliet a 3-0 lead.

Lake Erie plated their first two runs in the bottom of the third. Tyree Bradley began the inning with a base hit and came around to score on Jackson Pritchard’s RBI triple to the gap in right center. Sam Frontino brought Pritchard home a few moments later on a RBI single to right.

Joliet would get two more runs in the top of the fifth. Steering and Salas both drew back-to-back bases loaded walks to plate Joliet’s last two runs of the night.

The Crushers made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Sean Lawlor and Gabe Snyder walked to start the inning. Jiandido Tromp followed with a RBI single to score Lawlor. Jared Liebelt (4) retired the next two batters, before he walked Frontino to loaded the bases. Liebelt then retired Todd Isaacs Jr. on a groundout to end the game.

Tanner Larkins (5-2) picked up the win for the Slammers after allowing a pair of runs on four hits while striking out eight batters over seven innings. Liebelt picked up the save for the second time in as many nights. Santana took the loss after surrendering five runs, four earned on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts over five innings of work. Thomas Bruss, Brayden Bonner and Trevor Kuncl combined to toss four innings of scoreless, no hit relief.

Bradley led the Lake Erie offense, going 2-for-3 with a pair of hits and reached three times on the night. Frontino reached three times as well, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

The Crushers will conclude their homestand and their series with the Slammers at Mercy Health Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.