FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers Come From Behind To Sweep Freedom

Published on August 4, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


FLORENCE, Ky. - The Lake Erie Crushers scored all four of their runs with two outs on Thursday night at the home of the Florence Freedom, as they came from behind to take the final game of the series, 4-2, completing the three game sweep.

For the Crushers, (33-35) the victory was their fifth in their last six games, and marked their second sweep on the road this season, while the loss for Florence (27-41) was their ninth in a row.

Florence jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Willie Holmes and Stephen Shults started the inning with back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position on Jeff Dunbar's sacrifice bunt. Holmes scored moments later on Drew Rundle's groundout.

The Freedom plated their final run in the home half of the third. Junior Arrojo was hit by a pitch to start the inning and came around on a two out base hit from Chris Curley to give Florence a 2-0 lead after three innings.

The Crushers began their comeback in the top of the fourth. Jason Taylor's first of three hits was a one out single, and he stole second base before scoring on a two out base hit from Jodam Rivera to put Lake Erie on the board.

In the sixth, Taylor doubled down the right field line, and moments later, Kellen Kulbacki belted Anthony Bello's (2-4) 1-0 pitch into the gap in right center field, resulting in an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.

Brian Erie smacked a one out single in the top of the seventh inning, and scored the eventual game winning run on Patrick Norris's two out triple to left field. Jereme Milons followed by hitting a ground ball to third base, but an errant throw from Curley brought Shults off the bag at first, allowing Milons to reach, and Norris to score.

The previous two nights, the Freedom had the tying runs on base and the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning, and Thursday's contest was no different. Ruben Flores (15) walked Rundle to start the inning, and then hit Arrojo, putting two one, with one out, before Juan Valdes ended the game by bouncing into a 4-6-3 double play.

Josh Roberts (8-4) scored the victory for the Crushers, after allowing just a pair of runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts over seven and a third. Travis Risser retired the only two batters he faced in the eighth inning and Flores tossed a scoreless ninth to snag the save. His 15 saves are tied for third most in the league.

Taylor paced the Crushers with a 3-for-4 performance and scored twice. Norris also hit safely multiple times, going 2-for-5 with a base hit to go along with the game winning triple. Andrew Davis failed to reach base for the first time since June 21, bringing his remarkable 38 game on base streak to an end. The 38 game streak is the longest in the Frontier League this season.

The Crushers will begin a three game series against the Evansville Otters at All Pro Freight Stadium on Friday night. Left hander Paul Fagan (4-9, 4.43) will start for the Crushers, and the Otters will counter with left hander Matt Zielinski (1-0, 1.80).The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, play ball at All Pro Freight Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, OH. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 12 teams operating throughout the Midwest. Season tickets for the 2011 season are on sale now! For more information on tickets, promotions and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.

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Frontier League Stories from August 4, 2011


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