Walk This Way
Crushers walk nine times in 7-6 win over Washington
AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers, presented by Mercy Health, scored early and often on Friday night at Sprenger Healthcare Stadium, scoring six of their seven runs over the first three innings of the contest on their way to a 7-6 win over the Washington Wild Things.
The Crushers (31-24) have now won six in a row, which marks their longest winning streak of the season, while the loss for the Wild Things (24-34) was their seventh in 10 meetings against the Crushers this season.
Washington right-hander AJ Bogucki (2-3) walked the first four batters he faced in the bottom of the first inning on 18 pitches. Aaron Hill, Emmanuel Marrero and Zach Racusin walked to load the bases before Bogucki issued a free pass to Dale Burdick to score Hill. Steven Kraft brought in the next run on a sacrifice fly to plate Marrero.
The Crushers added two more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Bryan DeLaRosa started the inning with a walk and made his way to second after Hill was issued his second free pass of the night. Marrero followed with a RBI double down the line in right, and Racusin brought Hill home on a sacrifice fly.
Washington was able to get on the board in the top of the third. Drew Bene started the inning with a single to right and eventually came around to score on Hector Roa’s two out RBI single to center.
Two more came across for the Crushers in the home half of the third to give them a 6-1 advantage. Brody Wofford started the inning with his second homer of the year, a solo shot over the wall in right, and Jake Vieth brought the next run home, plating Kraft on a RBI double to right center field.
The Wild Things would inch closer in the top of the fourth. After Crusher lefty Jared Koenig (4-0) retired the first two batters of the inning, he walked Brett Marr, allowed a single to Bene, issued a free pass to Blake Adams to load the bases and then surrendered a two run single to Cameron Baranek.
Washington made it a two run (6-4) game in the top of the fifth. JJ Fernandez reached on a one out single to left, then came around to score on Alex Murphy’s RBI double off the wall in right.
The Crushers put one more on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hill belted a lead off single, stole second, made his way to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Crushers a 7-4 advantage.
The Wild Things made things interesting in the top of the ninth. Baranek reached on a single to start the inning, and scored moments later when Roa belted a two run homer to left, his ninth of the year. However, Kent Hasler (4) retired the next two batters to secure the victory.
Koenig scored the victory for Lake Erie after allowing four runs on seven hits and struck out eight batters over six innings. Augie Gallardo tossed a pair of scoreless innings in relief before Hasler took over in the ninth and scored the save. Bogucki took the loss after allowing six runs on only three hits over two innings but issued eight free passes. Of the eight batters he walked, five came around to score.
Every Crusher in the starting lineup reached safely at least once. Marrero led the way going 2-for-4, while Hill reached three times and scored three runs. Racusin and Kraft both reached safely, extending their on base streaks to 12 games.
The Crushers will continue their three game series with the Washington Wild Things at Sprenger Healthcare Stadium on Saturday night. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM.
Video: JULY 19 LEC VS WASHINGTON
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