LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS News & Game Recaps

Schaumburg, IL – The Lake Erie Crushers (9-5) took game two of the three game series against the Schaumburg Boomers (9-4), coming from behind to win 7-4 and snapping their three game losing streak on Saturday afternoon.

Lake Erie sits in 3rd place in the Frontier League West standings, a full game behind the Washington Wild Things.

RHP Anthony Escobar got the ball for Lake Erie, looking to stop the losing skid. He would go 5 IP giving up 2 ER on 4 H and 1 BB, striking out 4 in another solid outing.

Boomers RHP Brendan Knoll, on two days rest, was originally intended to just be the opener, but ended up tossing five excellent innings of no-hit baseball on 60 pitches.

2B Alec Craig would get the Boomers on the board in the 3rd with a sacrifice fly, going up 1-0.

Boomers C Allante Hall would add on in the bottom of the 5th inning with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Aaron Simmons. Escobar would escape further damage, stranding Boomers on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning.

RHP Christian Lopez would relieve Boomers starter Brendan Knoll, who pitched well enough to record a win, going the necessary five innings.

Immediately after Knoll’s exit, the Crushers found the hit column and the run column thanks to an RBI double by CF Burle Dixon. Shortly thereafter, Lopez would be removed from the game with an apparent injury.

With men on 1st and 2nd, 1B Vincent Byrd Jr. would log RBIs 13 and 14 on the season with a double to take the lead 3-2. Then, LF Ronald Washington would launch his first homer of the 2024 season, extending the lead to 5-2. A five spot in the 6th inning for Lake Erie would put Anthony Escobar in line for the win.

LHP Cal Carver would come out of the bullpen for Lake Erie in the 6th, tossing three scoreless innings, putting his count to 9 scoreless frames to begin the 2024 season (0.00 ERA). Carver and Christian Scafidi (10 IP, 0.00 ERA) remain the two arms not scored upon amongst Crushers pitchers this season.

RHP Daiveyon Whittle, fresh off the injured list on Saturday, would get into some trouble for the Boomers in the 7th. 3B Logan Thomason would walk and score on a wild pitch. Then, 2B Ethan Skender would cash in one pitch later with an RBI single to make the score 7-2 Crushers.

The Crushers went 7-14 (.500) with runners in scoring position on the day. Do that, and you’re bound and determined to score some runs.

RHP Enrique Ozoa came in relief of Carver in the 9th, only getting two outs and giving up a run. RHP Trevor Kuncl would relieve Ozoa, coming in with the bases loaded, 2 outs, and the tying run at the plate. Kuncl would walk in a run to make the score 7-4, but would retire RF Christian Fedko to secure the win in a save situation.

Anthony Escobar (1-0) snagged his first win of the season, with the loss being handed to Schaumburg’s Christian Lopez (2-1). Trevor Kuncl (3) knotting save number three on the season.

The Crushers will look to take the series against Schaumburg with the rubber match on Sunday scheduled for 7:30pm EST. Matt Valin (1-0, 0.84 ERA) will take the hill for Lake Erie.