FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers drop back and forth battle with Miners

Published on August 14, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


MARION, Ill. -- The Lake Erie Crushers erased a pair of two run deficits on Thursday night at Rent One Park, but their comeback efforts fell one run short, as they lost the series finale to the Miners, 7-6.

The loss marks the second time in the last three days that the Crushers (32-42) lost in in walk off fashion and the win for the Miners (49-26) marks their 10th consecutive series victory.

The Lake Erie offense was red hot again, scoring six times on 15 hits. They hit safely 38 times in the series, but every time they came back, the Miners had an answer.

Southern Illinois struck first in the bottom of the first inning, as Frank Martinez scored on a wild pitch. Martinez struck again for the Miners in the bottom of the second, as he ripped a two-out double down the line in right to score Aaron Gates, giving the Miners a 2-0 lead.

Lake Erie cut that deficit in half in the top of the fourth. Anderson Hidalgo began the inning with a double down the right field line, and scored on Juan Sanchez's RBI single to center. The Crushers tied it in the sixth inning, on Boo Vazquez's two-out RBI double to score Hidalgo.

The Crushers took their only lead of the game in the top of the seventh. They had runners on second and third with two outs, when manager Chris Mongiardo called on Chandler Brock in a pinch hit situation, and he delivered with a two-run single to center, giving the Crushers a 4-2 lead.

The Miners responded in the home half of the seventh with four runs to regain the lead. Michael Early drove in the first run on a single to left, and Jerrud Sabourin followed with a two-run single to left center to give the Miners the lead. Craig Massey drove in the final run of the inning on a RBI single to right.

Lake Erie rallied in the ninth inning, and scored a pair of runs to keep the game alive. Daniel Aldrich started the inning with his third base hit of the game, but was later picked off at first. Trevor Stevens followed with a triple down the right field line, and scored moments later on Austin Prott's double to right. Prott stole third, and scored the game tying run on Jose Barraza's two-out RBI single to center.

The Miners won it in the bottom of the ninth. Craig Massey reached on a one out single to center, and stole second base, before scoring the game winning run on Adrian English's pinch hit single to left.

Eric Green (5-2) allowed two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth, but despite that, still came away with the win. Mike Devine (3-4) allowed the game winning run on a pair of hits in the ninth and took the loss.

For the second night in a row, five Crushers hit safely multiple times. Aldrich led the way, going 3-for-4 with a trio of singles. Hidalgo reached in all five plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. Barraza, Stevens, and Vazquez all hit safely twice on the night as well.

The Crushers will begin a three game series with the Windy City Thunderbolts at Standard Bank Stadium on Friday night. Right-hander Zach Morton (4-2, 3.46) will start for the Crushers and righty Cameron Giannini (4-0, 1.47) will start for the Thunderbolts. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, and 2011 Frontier League Organization of the year, play ball at All Pro Freight Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, Ohio. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 14 teams operating throughout the Midwest. Season tickets for the 2015 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 14, 2015


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