Crushers win the game by a final score of 3-2 against Windy City
AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers, presented by Mercy Health, narrowly escaped with a win in the final game of the series with Windy City. Jake Vieth helped power the Crushers to a 3-2 win with his big performance tonight.
The Crushers (48-39) are now 20-19 in one run games this year. While the Thunderbolts (37-51) drop their fifth game in their last 10 with the loss.
Jared Koenig had his quality start spoiled because of late game offense from the Thunderbolts. Koenig was cooking through his first 6.2 innings but ran into trouble in the seventh. Koenig’s final line read 6.2 innings pitched, where he gave up two runs on four hits, walked three and struck out eight. Augie Gallardo (4-2) earned the win as he pitched two scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th. Sean Leland (1-3) got the loss as he gave up the winning run in the 12th inning.
Lake Erie started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Aaron Hill hit a single to get the offense rolling. Emmanuel Marrero advanced Hill into scoring position with a groundout. Then Logan Farrar hit a single to move Hill over 90 feet. Dale Burdick came up but struck out looking for the second out of the inning. Vieth stepped in and came up clutch for Lake Erie as he hit a two out RBI single to make it a 1-0 game.
The second run of the game for the Crushers came in the fourth inning. With one out on the board, Steven Kraft hit a double into the left centerfield gap. On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Dre Hubbard hit an RBI double to make it a 2-0 Lake Erie lead.
Windy City’s offense came to life in the seventh inning with two outs. Koenig got the first two batters out with ease with a strike out and a ground out. But Koenig went on to give up three consecutive singles, two of which were RBI singles, to tie the game 2-2.
Both pitching staffs pitched very well to shut down the offenses and send us to extra innings. It wasn’t until the 12th inning that something would happen. With the international tie breaker rule in effect, Hill started the inning on second. Marrero walked to start the inning and put runners at first and second for the Crushers. Logan Farrar then hit into a fielder’s choice that looked like it was going to be a double play. But with his speed, Farrar beat out the throw to first. Dale Burdick then drew a one out walk to load the bases for Vieth. Vieth wasted no time and hit a long fly ball into right for an RBI sac fly to give the Crushers the 3-2 win.
Lake Erie’s bullpen was outstanding tonight. Dalton Geekie, Seth Lucio, Logan Lombana, and Augie Gallardo combined to throw 5.1 innings where they gave up no hits, walked none, and struck out 13. Without their efforts, the Crushers might not have won this one.
The Crushers will start a three-game series with the Schaumburg Boomers on Friday at Sprenger Health Care Stadium in Avon, Ohio. It is still TBA on who will be on the mound for Lake Erie. But the Boomers will go with Gunnar Kines (6-5, 2.54). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, and 2011 Frontier League Organization of the year, play ball at Sprenger Health Care Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, Ohio. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 10 teams operating throughout the Midwest. For more information on tickets, promotions and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.
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