Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Crushers Outlast Jackals

Two big innings boost Crushers in 12-10 victory

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220607_4ybw.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers used two huge innings to win their series opener against the New Jersey Jackals at Mercy Health Stadium on Tuesday night, plating five runs in the third and seven in the fourth on their way to a 12-10 victory. 

The victory for the Crushers (10-12) was their fourth straight at home while the loss for the Jackals (7-12) was their third in their last four games. 

The two teams combined to score 22 runs on just 18 hits. 12 walks were issued throughout the night as well and there were four homeruns hit between the two teams. Five batters were hit by a pitch as well. 

The Jackals fired the first shot in the top of the second inning, when Josh Rehwaldt smashed a two run homer to left, his fifth of the season. The Jackals added two more in the top of the third when Alfredo Marte belted a RBI single and Dalton Combs scored on a wild pitch. 

Lake Erie then put a huge two out rally together in the bottom of the third, scoring five times with two outs to take the lead. Kenen Irizarry walked to start the rally and Jackson Valera followed with a single. Bryant Flete was walked to load the bases for Jared Mang who stroked a two run double down the line in left. A wild pitch plated the next two runs before Connor Owings gave Lake Erie the lead on a RBI double off the wall in right center. 

The Crushers then scored seven times in the fourth inning on just two hits. Nick Cicci and Rodney Tennie were both plunked by a pitch to start the inning before Irizarry walked. Valera was then hit by a pitch to score the first run of the inning. Flete reached on a fielder’s choice to score Tennie and Mang followed with a RBI single to right. Owings capped the big inning with a Grand Slam, his second of the season to give Lake Erie a 12-4 lead. 

New Jersey plated three more in the fifth inning on a pair of homers. Todd Isaacs blasted a solo homer to center and Justin Wylie belted a two run shot to left, his seventh homer of the year. The Jackals pushed three more across in the sixth inning. Isaacs brought in the first run on a RBI single and Combs singled in the final two runs of the game. 

Kaleb Schmidt (1-3) picked up his first win of the year after allowing seven runs on four hits while fanning 10 batters over five innings of work. Sam Curtis (5) picked up the save by tossing a perfect ninth inning. Curtis, Ean Walda and Gleyvin Pineda all tossed scoreless innings in relief. Leonard Rodriguez (0-3) took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned on three hits while walking five batters over two and two-thirds. 

Eight out of Lake Erie’s starting nine reached safely at least once. Mang paced Lake Erie offensively, going 3-for-5 and drove in three runs. He’s now hit safely in six straight games and reached safely in his last 10. Owings turned in a two hit game, going 2-for-4 while driving in five of Lake Erie’s 12 runs. 

The Crushers will continue their series with the New Jersey Jackals at Mercy Health Stadium on Wednesday night. Lefty Brock Begue (0-1, 7.36) will start for the Crushers. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.