LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS News & Game Recaps

Joliet, IL – The Lake Erie Crushers (13-8) swept the Sunday doubleheader against the Joliet Slammers (8-13), winning by a score of 4-2. Two wins on Sunday put the Crushers back to within 1.5 games of first place in the Frontier League West standings.

The Crushers, perhaps desperate for a series win, struck first in game two of the doubleheader on a RF Jack Harris RBI single, giving Lake Erie an early 1-0 lead.

In the 2nd 3B Walner Espinal, getting the start in game two, launched a deep fly to center field that hit off the wall. LF Jose Torrealba would score from first as Espinal chugged into third with an RBI triple to make it 2-0 Crushers.

1B Scout Knotts would cash in with two runners in scoring position and two outs shortly after, dumping a single into shallow left field to extend the lead to 4-0 over Joliet.

The Slammers got one back with a two-out grounder that SS Jarrod Watkins was unable to handle. A tough play, but Joliet got on the board with Lake Erie still leading 4-1.

Lake Erie starter, LHP Matt Valin, pitched into the 5th inning, but loaded the bases with two outs. LHP Cal Carver was called upon to get the final out of the 5th. 1B Jonathan Sierra grounded out to second base to end the threat. The Crushers led heading into the sixth, still 4-1.

Valin’s final line was: 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K on 93 pitches.

A scoreless bottom of the 6th pitched by LHP Kenny Pierson set up the Crushers to take the series in the 7th (with Frontier League doubleheaders being only 7 innings).

RHP Sammy Tavarez came on to try and nail down his first save of the 2024 season for Lake Erie. Jonathan Sierra, with two outs, knocked an RBI single through the left side to make the score 4-2. Tavarez got the strikeout of the next batter to slam the door.

Lake Erie takes their first road series win of the 2024 season, making them now 4-5 on the road. The Crushers will travel to Evansville, IN to take on the Evansville Otters on Tuesday, June 4. Start time is 7:35pm EST.