Lake Erie defeats Quebec, 6-1
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Lake Erie (29-32) on the tailend of their roadtrip in Canada started a three game series against the team with the best record in the Frontier League, Quebec Capitales (44-17). For Quebec, the team stands firmly in the first position in the East division more than halfway through the season.
Matt Mulhearn continued his dominant stretch on the mound for the Crushers. Holding the number one team in the league to one run, while the Crushers took advantage of four Capitales errors to start off the series with a 6-1 win.
There was early offense for both teams in the first inning. For Lake Erie, it was a Kenen Irizarry RBI single that gave the Crushers the lead. Quebec followed with a solo home run off the bat of Jeffery Parra.
There was no offense from both teams until the sixth inning. Lake Erie plated three runs to regain the lead. Austin White scored on an error by the pitcher where the ball was put into play. Sean Cheely followed with an RBI single. Later in the inning Jake Gitter stole home and scored on a play where Sean Cheely stole second base.
Lake Erie up by three going into the bottom of the sixth where Crusher starter Matt Mulhearn remained on the mound. The right-hander has been on fire since June 21st. Since June 21st in six starts, Mulhearn has lasted five innings or more and given up two runs or less in each start, that’s 35.1 IP and seven runs (six earned). That stretch includes a start on July 14th where Mulhearn took a no hitter into the seventh inning against the Slammers.
In tonight’s start, Mulhearn lasted six and third innings, allowed four hits, one run, walked three and struck out six. Going back to July 8, in his last 18 innings, 17 have been scoreless innings, including tonight’s start against Quebec.
The Crushers added two insurance runs in the eighth inning. Recent Lake Erie addition Jordan Hussein drove in Irizarry on an RBI single. Sean Cheely later scored on an error by the second baseman, the fourth error of the game from Quebec.
Gleyvin Pineda called out of the bullpen to close the game. The hard throwing right-hander hasn’t appeared since July 15th. Pineda threw a scoreless ninth inning en route to a 6-1 Lake Erie win.
The Crushers look to win the three game series against the Quebec Capitales on Wednesday, July 27. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.
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