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Joliet D. Lake Erie Crushers

July 17, 2017 - Frontier League (FL) - Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio -- The Lake Erie Crushers, presented by Mercy, were swept by the Joliet Slammers, as they fell in the series finale on Sunday afternoon in a 9-6 setback at Sprenger Health Care Stadium.

The loss for the Crushers (23-30) was their third straight following a five game winning streak, while the victory for the Slammers (24-28) was their third in a row following a three game losing streak.

The Crushers fired the first shot, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Austin O'Brien started the inning with a double to left and he came around to score on Josh McAdams's RBI single to center.

Joliet put a two out rally together to take the lead in the top of the third. After retiring the first two batters of the inning on five pitches, Connor Reed (2-6) allowed three straight two out hits. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam started the rally with a triple down the right field line and scored on a RBI single from Spencer Navin.

Melvin Rodriguez followed with a double to the gap in right center to put runners on second and third. Reed then struck out Danny Zardon, but a wild pitch on the dropped third strike kept the inning alive and allowed Navin to score from third. Edwin Gomez followed with a RBI double down the left field line to cap the inning.

The Crushers responded in a big way, as they scored five times to regain the lead in the bottom of the third. The inning began with six straight hits, chasing Joliet starting pitcher Shane Bryant out of the game. It started on a solo homer from Jordan Dean, his 10th of the season. Connor Simonetti followed with a double and made his way to third on a single from Sean Hurley. O'Brien followed with a RBI single to plate Simonetti, and three pitches later, Connor Oliver drove Hurley home on a RBI double to left. McAdams capped the big frame with a two-run single to center field.

Joliet refused to go away, as they plated two runs in the next half inning. Travis Bolin started the inning on a solo homer to left, his fifth of the season. Two batters later, Josh Merrigan tripled to the gap in left center, and came around to score on Hoopii-Haslam's RBI groundout, bringing the Slammers within one (6-5).

Joliet sent all nine batters to the plate in the top of the fifth, scoring five times to regain the lead. The bases were loaded with one out when Bolin singled to right to tie the game at 6-6. Chaz Meadows followed with a RBI single to center to give Joliet the lead. A check-swing on a 1-2 pitch turned into an RBI infield single for Hoopii-Haslam, before a wild pitch brought in the final run of the inning.

Russ Gibson (1-0) scored the victory, tossing a pair of scoreless innings in relief. He was one of four Joliet relievers that combined to toss seven scoreless innings out of the pen. Confessor Lara (12) delivered a perfect ninth inning to grab the save. Reed took the loss, after allowing nine runs on 13 hits over 4.2 innings of action.

Six Crushers hit safely multiple times, and Oliver led the way with a trio of hits, going 3-for-5 with a double and a pair of base hits.

The Crushers are off on Monday but will begin a three-game series on the road against River City Rascals on Tuesday night. Right-hander Juan Caballero (3-1, 4.05) will make the start for the Crushers. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:35 PM.


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