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FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers Fall to ThunderBolts 9-5

August 30, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


CRESTWOOD, IL - The third best fielding team in the Frontier League picked the worst time of the year to have one of it's worst defensive games. Eight unearned runs in the first three innings doomed the Crushers and now they need to win at least three of their next four to make the playoffs.

The way the game started it looked like the Lake Erie Crushers (51-41) were going to have a fun night as they scored two in the top of the first on a two-out RBI double by Russ Moldenhauer (1-4, 2B, 2RBI). The double by Moldenhauer was his 30th on the season, which leads the Frontier League.

However, things took a turn for the worse in the bottom of the third inning when Brandon Decker (1-3, 2 R) led-off for the ThunderBolts (52-40) and Moldenhauer was unable to field the ball cleanly. Paul Fagan (L, 7-9) then walked Jarek West (1-3, BB) before Ryan Cuneo (0-4) grounded out to first to put runners on second and third.

And just like in last night's game, the number nine batter, Travis Weaver (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R), was able to come through for the Thunderbolts with a 2-out 2-RBI single up the middle.

CJ Gillman (2-4, 3 RBI, 2 R) then followed with a single to drive in Travis Weaver who had moved up on the throw on the previous play and Chris Wade (3-5, R, RBI) followed with an RBI triple into the left-center field gap to complete the scoring in the second.

The bottom of the third saw more of the same as Chad Cregar (2-4, R) singled to lead off the inning and after a flyout by Zach Aakhus (0-5), Brandon Decker was hit by a pitch and Jarek West singled to load the bases for Ryan Cuneo who popped out for the second out of the inning.

It appeared that Fagan was going to get out of the inning when he struck out Travis Weaver, but Crushers catcher Brian Erie was unable to handle the pitch and all runners advanced, including Cregar who was at third. Gillman then followed with a single that knocked in two runs, but left-fielder Daniel Bowman overran the ball as he was charging it and that allowed Weaver to score all the way from first base thus putting the ThunderBolts up 8-2.

The Crushers loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning with one out and JC Figueroa at the plate. Figueroa was able to drive in a run with a groundout, but Jason Taylor struck out swinging to end the threat.

The bottom of the lineup again got the Crushers going in the sixth inning when Wally Correa (1-3, 2 R) was hit by a pitch and Kyle Weldon (2-3, 2B, BB) singled to right to put runners on first and third with one out. Brian Erie (1-4, RBI) followed with an RBI groundout of his own, but Figueroa popped up to end the threat.

The ThunderBolts scored their first earned run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and it appeared that the Crushers were going to get it back and more in the top of the seventh, but it was just not their day.

The Crushers tool advantage of some wildness from relief pitcher Paul Montalbano as he walked the only two batters he faced to load the bases. Robby Kuzdale (1-5, RBI) singled home a run to bring Wally Correa to the plate with the score 9-5, but Correa swung at a 2-0 fastball from Andy Mee and grounded into a double play and that was the closest the Crushers would get the rest of the game.

Paul Fagan (L, 7-9) was the tough luck loser for the Crushers as the went three innings, allowing eight unearned runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking one. Stephen Sauer was credited with the win as the righty went 6.1 IP, allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits while walking and striking out three batters.

The loss puts a massive dent in the Crushers playoff chances; they now must win at least three of their next four as well as get some help from the other teams still in the playoff race. The win for the ThunderBolts now means they have clinched the tiebreaker against the Crushers and while the Crushers are only down one in the standings, they are in essence down two games to the ThunderBolts with just four remaining.

The starter in tomorrow night's game for the Crushers will be Matt Smith while the ThunderBolts' starting pitcher has yet to be determined. Tomorrow night's game starts at 7:05 Central (8:05 Eastern) and can be heard on www.lakeeriecrushers.com.

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Frontier League Stories from August 30, 2012


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