Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Stranded

Crushers strand 13 base runners in 6-3 loss to Miners

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220520_hzt5.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers outhit the Sussex County Miners 11-6 on Friday night at Mercy Health Stadium, but came out on the wrong end of a 6-3 decision to start the weekend series.

The Crushers (3-4) have now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season while the win for the Miners (6-2) was their third in their last four games.

Lake Erie was able to fire the first shot in the bottom of the first inning. Kenen Irizarry started the inning with his first of three singles on the night and he came around the score the game’s first run on Jackson Valera’s RBI single to right.

Sussex County plated their first two runs in the top of the third to take the lead, and never looked back. Martin Figueroa walked with the bases loaded to score Nick Garland, and Ariel Sandoval’s sacrifice fly scored Kevin Rolon.

The Miners added two more in the top of the fifth as Sandoval struck again with a two run single to right field to plate Figueroa and Errol Robinson.

Garland started the top of the sixth inning with a double and came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Miners a 5-1 lead.

Lake Erie made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth. Jarrod Watkins was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Kokko Figueiredo followed with a free pass. Connor Owings brought Watkins home an a RBI groundout and Irizarry struck again with a RBI single to right, but that was as close as the Crushers would get the rest of the night.

The Miners added one last run in the top of the ninth inning on Robinson’s RBI double to right.

Conner Dand (1-0) picked up the victory for the Miners in his first start of the season. He allowed just a run on seven hits while striking out five batters over five innings. John Baker (1) scored the save, tossing two scoreless innings in relief. Kaleb Schmidt (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on one hit, but walked five batters over four and a third.

Five Crushers hit safely multiple times on the night. Irizarry led the way going 3-for-5 with a trio of singles. Jack Harris, Ermindo Escobar Valera and Watkins all hit safely twice on the night.

Lake Erie and Sussex County will continue their three game series at Mercy Health Stadium on Saturday night. The pitching matchup has not been announced, but the first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM.