Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Crushers Come Back to Beat Boulders

Lake Erie rallies to win in their final at bat to beat New York 4-3

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/boxscores/20230630_lbfa.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers scored their second walk off victory of the season at Mercy Health Stadium on Friday night, as they came from behind to defeat the New York Boulders, 4-3.

The win for the Crushers (18-25) snapped a four game home losing streak, while the loss for the Boulders (23-18) was their 13th in 21 road games this season.

Jarrod Watkins delivered the game winning hit for the Crushers in the bottom of the ninth inning to provide the Crushers with their second victory in their final at bat. It was a single to left field which came on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Sam Frontino.

Starting pitching was very strong on both sides. After four scoreless innings, the Boulders got on the board first in the top of the fifth when Giovanny Garbella blasted a solo homer to right, his fifth of the season.

Lake Erie was able to answer an inning later in similar fashion. With the bases empty and one out, Jack Harris launched a solo homer over the wall in left field, his seventh of the season to tie the game at 1-1.

New York regained the lead with a pair of two out runs in the top of the seventh. Gabriel Garcia drove in the first run on a single to left which scored Joe Deluca. Thomas Walraven drew a bases loaded walk to bring Garbella home, giving the Boulders a 3-1 lead.

The Crushers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. Kemuel Thomas-Rivera smoked a one out double to right and came home a few moments later when Drew Galassi stroked a RBI triple down the line in right. Galassi scored the game tying run a few pitches later on a wile pitch.

Gabe Snyder got the Crusher rally started in the bottom of the ninth on a one out single to right, and Frontino came on to pinch run for him. Todd Isaacs Jr. reached on a walk, before Harris made his way to first on a fielder’s choice. With two outs and runners at the corners, Watkins singled Ryan Munoz’s 0-2 pitch to left field to score Frontino and win the game.

Darrien Ragins (2-1) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning to pick up the victory. He and Ean Walda both tossed scoreless innings of relief. Yasel Santana took a no decision, but pitched well for the Crushers, allowing three runs on five hits with a trio of walks and five strikeouts over 6.2 innings of action. Mitchell Senger (0-1) took the loss for New York after surrendering a run on one hit over an inning of work.

The walk off win for the Crushers was their first since defeating the Empire State Greys, 2-1 in their final at bat back on May 18. Harris and Thomas-Rivera led the Crusher offense with two hits each. They both extended their hitting streaks to five games in the process.

The Crushers will continue their three game series with the Boulders at Mercy Health Stadium on Saturday night. Right-hander Matt Mulhearn (2-2, 4.71) will get the start for the Crushers and the Boulders will counter with righty July Sosa (2-1, 3.94). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM.