Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

July 21, 2023

Box Score – 

Joliet, IL – The Lake Erie Crushers have been shutout for the second night in a row as they dropped the series opener to the Joliet Slammers 2-0.

The Crushers (24-34) have dropped to their worst mark of the season after losing to the Slammers (26-32), and sit at 10 games below .500. Counting tonight’s loss, the Grapes are winless against Joliet in four games this season after getting swept in their first series. 

Lake Erie had just three hits tonight as the team continues to struggle on the road. Their backs are against the wall in remaining winless throughout a series while playing away from home for the entire season. 

The scoring began in the second frame. The Slammers jumped on the board thanks to a bases-loaded walk which scored the first run. 

In the seventh inning, Joliet added one more on a balk that scored another runner. The score was then 2-0 and the rest was history. 

Angelo Baez (3-4) went 6.0 innings allowing just a run on six hits while walking four and striking out a trio of Slammers. Ricky Castro (3-2) bested the Crushers and earned the win after going 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball surrendering all three hits while walking four and striking out eight. Tyler Jay earned his third save of the year after slamming the door in the ninth inning.

Kenen Irizarry, Zach Racusin and Drue Galassi were the only men to tally hits for the Crushers tonight. The team struck out 11 times.

Lake Erie will be back on the slab tomorrow to try and even the series against the Slammers. The first pitch will be at 6:05 PM CDT.