LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS News & Game Recaps

Evansville, IN – The Lake Erie Crushers (15-9) spoiled the Evansville Otters’ (7-17) dreams to take the series on Thursday, winning by a score of 8-2.

The Crushers were winners in both series on the road trip, going 4-2 overall against Joliet and Evansville. Lake Erie still sits in 4th place in the Frontier League West standings, still 2.5 games behind Schaumburg.

2B Ethan Skender, the former Evansville Otter, stayed red hot, lining a solo homer to get the scoring started in the top of the 2nd inning. It was Skender’s fourth homer of the season and his second in as many games. SS Jarrod Watkins, batting leadoff on Thursday, tacked on another run with a two-out double to give the Crushers a 2-0 lead.

Leading off the top of the 4th, Ethan Skender sent a ball off the wall in center that caromed hard back toward the infield. Skender gave a long, hard thought at legging out an inside-the-park home run, but elected to pull up at third with a leadoff triple. He would score on an RBI single by LF Ronald Washington.

Things would be far from over for Lake Erie, though, as they would score six runs in the 4th, capped off by a two-run bomb by C Alfredo Gonzalez, his second of the series. Lake Erie did the damage against Evansville starter Tristan Harvin and reliever Johan Castillo. They would lead 8-0 after four.

Anthony Escobar was incredible with a nice cushion of run support. The righty pitched into the 7th inning and was one out away from getting out of it, but gave up a seeing eye, RBI single to 2B Glenn Miller (playing in his first professional game) on his 109th pitch of the ballgame. Evansville would get on the board and remove Escobar from the game, but his 6.2 IP was his most professionally since July 29, 2019 when he pitched 7 innings as a member of the GCL Twins.

Anthony Escobar’s final line: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K on 109 pitches –  eating quality innings for a Crushers staff that has a big weekend series coming up.

Ethan Skender’s series against his former team was one of epic proportions. The Crushers second baseman finished the three game set going 5-13 (.385) with a 3B, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, and a SB.

The Otters would scrap across a second run late, but the game would end on an outfield assist by CF Burle Dixon, throwing out an overzealous Mason White trying to take third with two outs in the 9th. The runner ahead of White had not yet touched home, so the run did not count, and the Crushers would walk out of Evansville with an 8-2 win.

The Crushers are back home for Star Wars Day on June 7 at 7:05pm EST as they take on the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. Be sure to come decked out in your Jedi (or Sith) robes and enjoy a fun night at the ballpark with postgame fireworks scheduled for your enjoyment! Fans have an opportunity to participate in a (sweet!) jersey auction supporting Community Resource Services. You can place bids beginning at 10am EST on Friday at the link below!

Star Wars Jersey Auction Link: https://tr.ee/IbdeJ8Xcwy

Fans, also mark your calendars for Pride Night on Saturday June 8 at 7:05pm and Superhero Day on Sunday June 9 at 2:05pm!