Crushers lose first, but win second game of twin bill
Published on July 10, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release
O'Fallon, Mo.- The Lake Erie Crushers fell to the River City Rascals, 3-2, in extra innings of the first game of the double header as Taylor Ard came up big for the Rascals, putting them on the board first and slapping the game winning hit.
In game two, the Crushers defeated the Rascals, 8-7, as five Crusher hitters had multiple hit games.
After the double header, the Crushers (19-26) have won four of their last six games. The Rascals (24-23), have lost six of their first eight games in July.
In the first game, the Rascals scored in the second inning. Taylor Ard hit a solo home run, his thirteenth of the season. Later in the inning, River City had an opportunity to do more damage. With one out, Josh Ludy hit a double and was followed by Hector Crespo who was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second and two out, Brian Hansen hit a ball to right. Chandler Brock was able to take the ball on a hop and throw home to get Ludy, who had rounded third and was trying to score.
The Crushers would tie things up in the fifth as Juan Sanchez hit a leadoff double after working the count full. He would score as Jose Barraza singled. For Barraza, it was his second RBI of the series.
The Crushers would take the lead in the sixth. Following a Turner Gill strike out and a lineout to the pitcher by Emmanuel Quiles, the Crushers rallied. Trevor Stevens walked and then Austin Prott hit an RBI double, tying the game and extending his streak to 12 straight games while reaching base safely. Derek Cape then relieved former Crusher reliever Zac Treece and saw Prott advance to third on a passed ball and then walked Sanchez. With runners on first and third and two outs, Anderson Hidalgo flew out to left.
The Rascals won the game in the bottom of the eighth inning as Jackson Slaid singled off of Crushers reliever Kolby Moore (1-2) with one out. Rob Blanc then relieved Moore to face Ard who doubled to left on the first pitch he saw from Blanc, scoring Slaid.
Crushers starter Brad Zambron went 4 1/3 innings pitched allowing six hits and surrendering only one run. Five Crushers came out of the bullpen in the first game, including Todd Kibby who came out of the bullpen and allowed a run in the sixth inning, on a hit and a walk. Moore pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing a run on one hit and struck out one and picked up the loss. Rob Blanc came out of the bullpen for the first time since May 20.
River City's starter Joe Scanio also went 4 1/3 innnings allowing six hits and one run while striking out one and walking two. The Rascals used four relievers, and Will Schierholz (2-0) came in for the final out in the top of the eighth and picked up the win.
In the second game of the night the Crushers were able to take a big lead early. Prott reached safely on a dropped third strike to start the game. Sanchez then doubled to move Prott to third. Hidalgo then hit a two RBI single to give Lake Erie an early lead. Hidalgo moved to second on a groundout off the bat of Barraza. With two outs, Kevin Zak then singled to score Hidalgo and put the Crushers up by three runs.
The Rascals would respond with three of their own in the third inning. Ludy singled to lead off the inning. He would move over to third on a single by Hector Crespo. Ludy would score on a fielders choice hit by Curran Redal, forcing Crespo at second. Brian Hansen then hit a two run home run off Crushers pitcher Zach Morton to cap off the inning.
In the fourth, Ard walked and moved to second as Johnny Morales grounded out to the pitcher. Ludy saw five pitches before he singled to score Ard. Matt Brankle then relieved Morton and gave up a single to Crespo that plated Ludy and put River City on top of the Crushers.
Lake Erie had to respond and they did in the fifth inning. Back-to-back singles by Joey Burney and Zak put runners on first and second and Gill pinch hit for Ty Nelson. Gill then singled to plate Burney and cut the Rascals lead to one.
Trevor Stevens led off the inning with a single in the sixth. With Prott at the plate, Stevens stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Prott struck out but Sanchez and Hidalgo then hit back-to-back singles. Barraza hit an RBI double and Hidalgo reached third. Joey Burney was intentionally walked to load the bases and Chandler Jagodzinski was put in the game to pitch for the Rascals. Zak then singled on the first pitch he saw and scored Hidalgo and Barraza. Chandler Brock singled to again load the bases with one out but the Crushers would strand those runners. After the four run half inning, Lake Erie led by three.
Mike Devine came into pitch for the sixth inning and the Rascals went to work. Morales walked with one out. After Ludy grounded out, Morales scored on a double by Crespo.
The Rascals would score one more in the seventh, Hansen walked to start the inning and scored on a double by Slaid. River City cut the lead to one, but that would be all they could muster.
Sanchez, Hidalgo and Zak all had three hits. Sanchez extended his hitting streak to 12 games as he had 6 hits on the day.
The Crushers' starter Zach Morton went just 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs. Matt Brankle (2-1) pitched 1 2/3, allowing two hits and picking up the win. Trevor Longfellow (7) would pick up the save as he went 1 1/3 innings to shut the door on the Rascals.
River City's starter, Ray Hanson went 4 2/3 innings allowing 10 hits and four runs. Heith Hatfield (2-2) allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning and picked up the loss.
The Crushers now travel to Evansville, Indiana to play the Evansville Otters in a three game weekend series. For the Crushers, righty Hunter Adkins (2-3, 2.03) will be on the mound to start the game. The Otters will throw right hander Trevor Walch (5-3, 1.77). The first pitch is scheduled for Friday at 6:35 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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