Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Ninth inning rally not enough for the Crushers in 5-4 loss

Box Link: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=542533

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers scored four times in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s game at Mercy Health Stadium, but their rally ultimately came up one run short, as they fell to the Washington Wild Things, 5-4.

Lake Erie (31-35) has now lost three out of their last four games, while Washington (35-31) is now 3-1 in four games against the Crushers in Avon this season.

The game was scoreless through the first seven innings. There was plenty of traffic on the bases, but both starting pitchers worked their way out of trouble all night long. Paul Hall Jr. tossed six scoreless innings for the Crushers and stuck out seven batters, while Washington starter Steven Colon worked five scoreless frames.

The Wild Things snapped the scoreless tie with a trio of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Nick Ward started the inning with a solo homer to left, his fourth of the season. Andrew Sohn then reached on Shawon Dunston Jr.’s error in center field and scored moments later on Bralin Jackson’s RBI single. Hector Roa brought home the final run of the frame on a two out RBI single to right.

Washington tacked on two more huge insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. Back-to-back one out walks were issued to Tristan Peterson and Cody Young before Ward belted a RBI double to right. Sohn followed with an infield single to score Young.

The Crushers finished the night with eight hits, and they recorded four of those in the ninth. Eric Callahan started the inning with a single to right. Shawon Dunston Jr. then sent a double down the line in left, and they both scored on Connor Oliver’s double to right field. Trevor Achenbach singled into center field and an error by Jackson in center allowed Oliver to score. Achenbach scored later in the inning on Karl Ellison’s groundout, before Zach Strecker (14) struck out Brody Wofford to end the game.

Taylor Sugg (2-2) allowed three runs, one earned on four hits over two innings and suffered the loss. Dan Kubiuk (1-0) retired all four batters he faced and scored the victory.

Oliver led the way for the Crushers offensively with three hits on the night, extending his hitting streak to eight games. Dunston Jr. also hit safely twice on the night. Isaac Benard walked three times on the night and has now reached safely in 10 straight games.

The Crushers and Wild Things will continue their three game series at Mercy Health Stadium on Wednesday night. Right-hander Jake Pilarski (2-2, 5.35) will start for the Crushers and the Wild Things will counter with lefty Ryan Hennen (8-2, 2.58). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.