FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers rebound to beat Kings in thriller

Published on July 27, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


Avon, OH - The Crushers seemed to be on their way to a relatively easy win over Kalamazoo on Monday night as they took a three run lead into the ninth inning. But the Kings would rally for the tie before Lake Erie finally prevailed in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-5 win.

The Crushers loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs when Tim Binkoski hit a slow roller to shortstop Kyle Higgins. Higgins rushed his throw and it sailed high to first, enabling Jesse Gibson to score the game winning run. Lake Erie squandered a 5-2 lead earlier in the inning when closer Jacinto Gonell gave up a three-run homer to right by Kalamazoo pinch hitter Tim Brown. "It was a well played game that ended pretty ugly," said Crushers Manager John Massarelli afterwards. "But it's a win and we'll take it."

Lake Erie took an early lead in the first inning when an error on Kings second baseman Joe Ramos enabled Jodam Rivera to score. In the fourth inning, Kalamazoo took a 2-1 lead when Simon Williams drilled a two-out, two-run single to left. But the Kings lead was short lived, as Crushers outfielder Tyler Johnson tied the game at two with his first home run in a Lake Erie uniform. Binkoski gave Lake Erie the lead in the fifth as he connected on a two-run double with the bases loaded to score Drew Saylor and Andrew Davis. Arden McWilliams added a fielder's choice RBI to give the Crushers a three-run advantage.

Monday night's game showcased some fine pitching by the Crushers as Jorge Charry worked the first five innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Josh Faiola followed and threw three perfect innings in relief, setting up Gonell's save attempt in the 9th. Gonell took the victory while Kalamazoo reliever Dan Baerlocker was saddled with the loss.

The Crushers are now 33-25 on the season and will close out their series with the Kings on Tuesday morning starting at 11:05 A.M. Paul Fagan will go for his tenth win of the season for Lake Erie against Kalamazoo's Bernard Robert.

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Frontier League Stories from July 27, 2009


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