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Lake Erie Crushers

The Crushers record nine hits but only push across one run in loss to Rascals

August 30, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


O'Fallon, Mo. - The Lake Erie Crushers lose to the River City Rascals, 4-1 as the Crushers fought back to tie the game in the fourth inning on a ground-rule double but could not score another run for the rest of the game and the Rascals take advantage of Lake Erie mistakes to take game two of the series at TR Hughes Ballpark.

After the loss, the Crushers (36-52) have now lost nine of their last ten games and are 8-19 in August. The Rascals (51-38) are 39-11 when leading after five innings.

In the first inning, the Rascals jumped on the board. Jackson Slaid singled and with two outs, was granted second base as a balk was called on Crushers starting pitcher Brad Duffy (8-5). Zach Kometani walked and with Hector Crespo at the plate, Slaid went to third on a wild pitch. Crespo then singled into right field for a base hit, scoring Slaid. Josh Silver then walked to load the bases but Duffy was able to strike out Josh Ludy for out number three.

In the fourth inning, the Crushers would tie the game at one run. Mark Fowler led off the inning with a bunt base hit. A Jose Barraza single to right moved Fowler to second, brining Anderson Hidalgo to the plate. Hidalgo hit a sharp groundball to the Rascals third baseman Taylor Ard, who fielded it on a hop. Ard stepped on third to retire Fowler and threw to first to turn the double play. However, Barraza advanced to second. The next hitter, Juan Sanchez, hit a line drive down the left field line that became stuck and was ruled a ground-rule double, scoring Barraza. Crushers manager, Chris Mongiardo did not agree with the call and was ejected from the game.

The Rascals would retake the lead in the fifth inning when Slaid singled with two outs. He stole second base and came around to score on a Taylor Ard single. Kometani would then single to right and Ard was thrown out at the plate as the relay throw came from right field to the first baseman Emmanuel Quiles and then home to Barraza who applied the tag.

Anderson Hidalgo was ejected in the sixth inning after arguing a called third strike. Brendan Costantino took over at third base in the seventh inning.

The Rascals opened the game up in the seventh inning. With two outs, Ard hit a swinging bunt to third where Costantino made an off balance throw that skipped past Quiles at first. Ard advanced to second base. Kometani came up and doubled off the wall in right, scoring a run. Crespo then singled, moving Kometani to third. With runners on the corners and two out, Silver hit a groundball to short that bounced off of Sanchez' glove and into center field. Kometani scored on the error.

Trevor Stevens went 2-4 in the game and Barraza had three singles, scoring the only run of the game in the fourth. Barraza is now 5-8 in this series.

The two teams combined for 18 hits while the Crushers left eight on base and the Rascals left nine on base.

Duffy started the game and went five strong innings after struggling through the first inning. He would give up two runs on five hits and struck out five but suffered the loss. Matt Brankle gave up two runs, one earned in an inning of relief for the Crushers.

Tim Koons (10-0) picked up the win after going 5 1/3 innings giving up one run and six hits while striking out six. Five Rascals would pitch out of the bullpen and did not give up a run. Victor Beriguete (5) pitched the top of the ninth and earned the save.

The Crushers and Rascals will play the final game of the series tomorrow. Lake Erie will send righty Zach Morton (4-4, 3.57) to the mound. The Rascals will counter with right hander Dane Stone (8-4, 3.77). The first pitch is scheduled for 5:05.

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