Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Crushers Swept by Slammers

Lake Erie limited to five hits in 3-2 loss to Joliet

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/boxscores/20230625_woav.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers saw their offensive struggles continue on Sunday afternoon at Mercy Health Stadium, as they were held to just five hits and were swept by the Joliet Slammers in a 3-2 loss.

The loss for the Crushers (16-23) marks the second time that they’ve been swept at home this season, while the victory for the Slammers (19-20) secured their second sweep of the season.

Pitching reigned supreme on Sunday as it did all series long. The Lake Erie bullpen tossed six scoreless innings in the contest, and did not allow a single run over 12 innings of the series.

Joliet jumped on the board first in the top of the first inning. Christian Fedko started a game with a double down the line in left field and he came around to score the first run of the game on Matthew Warkentin’s RBI double to the gap in right center.

Fedko struck again for the Slammers in the top of the second inning. Matt McGarry reached on a one out down to left center, and Fedko brought him home on a two-run homer left, his first of the season.

Lake Erie used the long ball to plate their only runs of the game. Todd Isaacs Jr. smashed a solo homer in the bottom of the third, his second of the season to get the Crushers within two (3-1).

The Crushers would get one more solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to score their final run of the contest. Sean Cheely belted a solo shot to right, his second bomb of the season to start the inning, but that was a close as the Crushers would get.

Tyler Jay (3-2) picked up the win for the Slammers after allowing just a run on four hits while walking one and fanning three batters in six innings of work. Andrew Dietz (1) scored a three inning save after allowing a run on a hit with one strikeout. Joan Gregorio (0-1) took the loss in his first start of the season after allowing a trio of runs on five hits with three strikeouts in two innings of action.

Lake Erie’s bullpen combination of Darrien Ragins, Perry Bewley, Ean Walda, Brayden Bonner and Trevor Kuncl combined to toss six innings of scoreless four hit relief. In the weekend series, Lake Erie relievers tossed 12 innings of scoreless relief, and allowed just seven hits.

The Crushers are off on Monday but will begin a three game series on the road with the New Jersey Jackals on Tuesday night. Right-hander JD Hammer (1-1, 2.28) will get the start for the Crushers and the first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM.