Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Crushers Drop 3-1 Decision to NY

Bullpen covers Five-plus innings in 3-1 setback to Boulders

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/boxscores/20230701_556o.xml

AVON, Ohio — On a night where runs were tough to come by, the Lake Erie bullpen put in a lot of work, covering 5.1 innings and allowed just a run, but it wasn’t enough as the Crushers dropped a 3-1 decision to the New York Boulders on Saturday night at Mercy Health Stadium.

The loss for the Crushers (18-26) was their fifth in their last six games at home, while the victory for the Boulders (24-18) was their third in five games against Lake Erie this season.

Pitching once again reigned supreme. While the Crusher pitching staff only allowed three runs on eight hits, New York’s starting pitcher July Sosa (3-1) stole the show. Sosa went the distance, tossing a complete game and allowed just a run on nine hits while striking out nine batters to secure the win.

Lake Erie received another outstanding effort from their bullpen, as the combination of Thomas Bruss, Sam Frontino, Ean Walda and Trevor Kuncl combined to toss 5.1 innings and allowed just a run on three hits.

The Crushers fired the first shot, scoring their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the second. Drue Galassi started the inning with a single, and advanced to third on a two base throwing error by Sosa. With two out in the inning, Jackson Pritchard reached on an infield single to score Galassi.

The lead didn’t last long, as the Boulders responded quickly with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Pat Kivlehan reached on a one out single and he came around to score on Gabriel Garcia’s RBI double to the gap in right center. David Vinsky brought Garcia home later in the inning with two outs on a RBI double to left.

New York added a big insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. The Boulders had a pair of runners thrown out at home plate in the inning, but they scratched one across on Kivlehan’s RBI single to left.

Lake Erie hit safely nine times on the night, and despite the loss, out-hit the Boulders, 9-8. Seven out of Lake Erie’s starting nine reached safely at least once, and six Crushers recorded at least one hit. Pritchard, Todd Isaacs Jr. and Kemuel Thomas-Rivera paced the Crushers with two hits each. Thomas-Rivera has now hit safely in six straight games while Isaacs extended his on base streak to six games.

Sosa picked up the win for the Boulders, marking the third time in Lake Erie’s last nine home games that an opposing pitcher has gone the distance against them. Matt Mulhearn (2-3) took the loss after allowing a pair of runs on five hits over 3.2 innings of work with four strikeouts.

The Crushers will finish their series with the Boulders at Mercy Health Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Newly acquired lefty Jonaiker Villalobos will get the start for the Crushers and the first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.