FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers Downed In Pitcher's Duel

Published on July 16, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


WASHINGTON, Pa. - The Lake Erie Crushers received eight strong innings from Paul Fagan on Saturday evening at Consol Energy Park, but Fagan and the Crushers came up one run short in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Wild Things

The victory for the Crushers, (22-27) the loss marked the tenth time this season that they've lost a game by a single run, and the loss for the Wild Things, (20-28) brought their three game losing streak to an end.

The Crushers scored their first run in the top of the third. Patrick Norris started the inning with a triple down the left field line. Jereme Milons followed with a walk, and Andrew Davis brought Norris home with a base hit. The Crushers had runners on first and second with nobody out, and were poised to do more damage. However, Kellen Kulbacki bounced into a 1-6-3 double play, and Nick Mahin followed with a groundout to end the threat.

Fagan (3-7) had one rough inning the entire night. He started the fifth by hitting Scott Lawson, who scored moments later on Doug Thennis's double to center field. Luis Rivera followed with a base hit which brought Thennis home to give the Wild Things the lead.

After Rivera's single, Fagan walked Estee Harris, and then retired the next nine batters he faced. Blake Ochoa reached on a one out walk in the seventh inning, and was the only batter to reach for the Wild Things after the fourth inning.

The Crushers put together one last threat in the eighth inning. Davis doubled down the left field line with two outs, and Kellen Kulbacki followed with an infield single. On Kulbacki's single to second base, Davis tried to score, but was thrown out at home plate. Davis slid past the plate, and was tagged out by Ochoa. The call was heavily debated by Davis, third base coach Dave Schaub and manager John Massarelli.

Fagan went the distance for the Crushers in a losing effort. He allowed just the two runs on three hits over eight innings and struck out six in the process. Casey Barnes (4-3) was masterful, outside of the third inning. He held the Crushers to a run on six hits over eight innings to score the victory, and Taylor Wulf (4) earned the save after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.

Davis paced the Crushers offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and two singles. He extended his on base streak to 20 games in the process, and now has 21 hits in July. Jodam Rivera reached on a single in the fourth inning, extending his on base streak to 16 games.

The Crushers will finish their three game series against the Washington Wild Things at Consol Energy Park on Sunday night. Left hander Randy Sturgill (3-0, 4.02) will start for the Crushers and the Wild Things will counter with right hander Justin Hall (4-4, 4.29). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 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 July 16, 2011


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