Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Crushers Drop Two at Home

Lake Erie Crushers suffer a double header sweep at the hands of the Wild Things

Box Link Game 1: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220702_7utu.xml

Box Link Game 2: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220702_xx77.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers came out on the wrong end of a pair of decisions at Mercy Health Stadium on Saturday night, losing both ends of a double header to the Washington Wild Things, falling 9-1 and 1-0.

The Crushers (17-27) have lost five in a row while the Wild Things (30-14) have won five straight and are 5-0 against the Crushers this season.

Game One

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Wild Things fired the first shot with two runs in the top of the third. Alex Alvarez and Nick Ward started the inning with back-to-back walks before Jared Mang’s bunt base hit loaded the bases. Jay Alvarez (2-3) struck out Scotty Dubrule, before Wagner Lagrange smashed a two run double down the line in right.

The Crushers threatened in the third inning, but couldn’t cash in until the fourth. Connor Owings reached on an infield single to start the inning and made his way to second on Danny Perez’s one out single. Jake Gitter brought Owings home on a RBI single to right.

Washington was able to post crooked numbers in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away. Andrew Czech brought in the first run in the sixth on a RBI single before Cole Brannen belted a RBI triple to score Czech. An errant relay throw allowed Brannen to score on the play as well.

In the seventh, the Wild Things scored four times on five hits. Jared Mang belted a two run homer to left, before Ian Walter smacked a run scoring double to plate Dubrule. Brannen brought in the final run on a sacrifice fly.

Kenny Pierson (2-1), a Sheffield Lake resident, and graduate of Brookside High School took the victory after tossing an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief. Alvarez suffered the loss after allowing five runs, four earned on seven hits while striking out seven over five and two-thirds.

Game Two

Runs were very tough to come by in the second contest. Both teams had plenty of chances to score, but Washington scored the game’s only run in the top of the second inning. Lagrange reached on an infield single to start the inning. A wild pitch put him on second and an errant throw allowed him to reach third. Moments later, Czech brought him home with a single to right field.

The Crushers left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning, and had runners at the corners in the bottom of the sixth with one out, but could not scratch one across against the Washington pitching staff.

Matt Mulhearn (0-2) took the hard luck loss after allowing just an unearned run on four hits and struck out five batters over five innings. Hayden Pearce (4-1) picked up the victory for Washington after tossing two perfect innings in relief. Lukas Young (8) scored the save, after tossing and inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief.

Altogether, the Crushers were held to just a run on 14 hits through the 14 inning double header. Owings had hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Jackson Valera went hitless in the first game to bring his 10 game hitting streak to an end, before going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles in the second game.

The Crushers will finish their series with the Washington Wild Things at Mercy Health Stadium on Sunday night. Right-hander Joseph Sgambelluri (4-3, 3.47) will start for the Crushers. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.