Crushers Come Back for Win
Published on July 3, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
AVON, OH - The Florence Freedom had it, and then they didn't. A second time? Nope.
The Lake Erie Crushers came from behind two straight innings and Andrew Davis hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the tenth inning to down the Freedom 4-3 Friday night.
The ball game in regulation was a classic pitchers' duel. Left-handers Moises Melendez and Paul Fagan battled through eight innings, and perhaps the ninth was too much for Melendez and the Freedom.
Fagan was perfect through four innings but allowed a Justin Pickett fifth inning two-run homer to put the Freedom up 2-0. It stayed that way until the ninth.
Melendez, who retired 15 straight from the third through eighth inning, was at 100 pitches as he tried for the first complete game shutout of his career. But Melendez walked the leadoff man and after a run scored on a safety squeeze bunt, the Crushers were one run away from tying the game.
With one out and runners at the corners, Jimmy Stanley froze Gordon Gronkowski on a strikeout. One out to go, Toby Rumfield turned to Demetrius Banks to get the final out. John Massarelli went to his bench and brought in pinch hitter Arden McWilliams. McWilliams didn't even have to swing the bat to drive in the run as Banks uncorked a wild pitch and the game headed to extra innings.
Pickett again came through for the Freedom with a two out homer in the top of the tenth inning off J.J. Pacella (2-0) to put Florence up 3-2.
But it just wasn't meant to be as again the Freedom fell one out short of victory. Nolan Shaffer (1-2) gave up the game winning double with two on to Davis on a 1-2 pitch which scored Jodam Rivera all the way from first.
The Freedom (20-19) are now 1-3 in extra inning games this season. Everett Saul (5-1, 6.23 ERA) makes the start for Florence in game two of the series Saturday night.
Frontier League Stories from July 3, 2009
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- Rockford Edges Rascals - River City Rascals
- Gateway Wins Slugfest - Windy City ThunderBolts
- James Streak at 30 as 'Hawks Win Again - Rockford RiverHawks
- Crushers Come Back for Win - Florence Y'alls
- Crushers Win on Davis Double - Lake Erie Crushers
- Nathanson Fires Complete Game but Beach Bums Fall - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Beach Bums to Honor Veterans and Military Personnal Saturady Evening - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Record Crowd Witnesses Pitchers' Duel - Evansville Otters
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