Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

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Crushers blank Greys in 6-0 victory at home

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220528_47ig.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers turned in their second shutout victory of the season on Saturday night at Mercy Health Stadium, as they blanked the Empire State Greys, 6-0.

The win for Crushers (7-7) gives them their second series victory of the season while the loss for the Greys (0-14) marks the third time they’ve been shutout this season.

Lake Erie scored early and often over the first three innings and never looked back. The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning, as the first four batters reached safely. Kenen Irizarry and Jackson Valera hit back-to-back singles to begin the inning before Bryant Flete walked to load the bases. Jared Mang was hit by the very next pitch to score Irizarry and Kokko Figueiredo brought in the next run on a sacrifice fly.

Danny Perez stroked a one out single to left in the bottom of the second inning and Irizarry followed with a double down the line in right. Valera drove Perez home a few moments later on a groundout to give Lake Erie a 3-0 lead.

The Crushers pulled away with a trio of runs in the bottom of the third. Singles from Mang, Figueiredo and Alonzo Jones started the inning, with Jones’s base hit to right field scoring Mang. Nick Cicci’s sacrifice fly scored Figueiredo and Irizarry struck again a few moments later with his third hit of the game, a run scoring single to right that plated Jones.

The pitching trio of Jason Alvarez (1-0), Chris Mutter and Ryan Campbell combined to toss a three hit shutout. Alvarez picked up the victory, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just a pair of hits and struck out eight. Mutter tossed a pair of scoreless innings in relief and Campbell tossed a scoreless ninth. Conor Maguire (0-2) took the loss after surrendering six runs on nine hits over two and two thirds.

Before the game, it was announced that Lake Erie shortstop Jarrod Watkins was a late scratch from the starting lineup because his contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Watkins hit .340 over 13 games with the Crushers this season with a pair of homers and seven RBI.

Irizarry led the way for Lake Erie offensively with a three hit performance, going 3-for-5. Valera hit safely multiple times as well, going 2-for-5 on the night. Figueiredo extended his on base streak to 14 games and he’s reached safely multiple times in 12 of those games.

The Crushers will finish their series with the Empire State Greys at Mercy Health Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Joseph Sgambelluri (2-0, 0.00) will start for the Crushers and the Greys will counter with right-hander Johsson Arias (0-1, 2.08). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.