FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers use 13 walks to take series finale over Rockford

Published on August 9, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Lake Erie Crushers used 13 walks and 13 hits to take the series finale over the Rockford Aviators 12-1 Friday night.

The victory for the Crushers (40-32) gave them their third series victory over the Aviators this season. It also notched their sixth series victory of the second half in seven chances. The loss for the Aviators (30-42) was their fifth in six games.

Lake Erie scored in six of nine innings tonight and was dominant throughout the contest. They belted 13 hits and were also helped by a strong pitching performance from lefty Connor Whalen, his first start since June 1st.

The Crushers used four hits to score four of their 12 runs on the night in the second inning. Juan Sanchez doubled to start the inning and came around to score later in the inning on an RBI single from Joey Burney. The very next batter PJ Torres singled to center field to bring home Adam Ford, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Trevor Stevens capped the four-run inning by singling up the middle to bring home Burney and Torres.

Lake Erie then used three walks and an error to add to their lead in the third inning. Anderson Hidalgo walked to lead it off and advanced to second when Juan Sanchez reached on an error. Vincent Mejia then doubled down the left field line to bring home Hidalgo. A walk to Adam Ford loaded the bases and the third walk of the inning issued to Joey Burney gave the Crushers a 6-0 lead.

The Crushers added one more run in the fifth, before Rockford finally got on the board. The Aviators threatened early leaving five runners on base in the first four innings (they left 10 on the night), but weren't able to capitalize. Connor Whalen hit Kyle Dhanani to start the inning before allowing a single to Brian Bistagne, allowing Dhanani to advance to third. A fly ball to left by Edgar Corcino brought Dhanani home to put Rockford on the board.

Lake Erie would score in each of the final three innings to add to their 7-1 lead. PJ Torres hit a two-out two-RBI double in the seventh inning to score Sanchez and Burney who had both walked.

Three straight hits by Stevens, Andrew Davis, and Hidalgo, the latter bringing home Stevens, gave Lake Erie one of their two runs in the eighth inning. A walk to Vincent Mejia loaded the bases and Davis later came around to score when Joey Burney was hit by a pitch. Lake Erie added a final insurance run in ninth inning on an RBI single from Juan Sanchez.

Rockford hit safely in eight of nine innings, but were only able to come away with the one run on 10 hits. Connor Whalen looked sharp in his first start in over two months, but was ineligible for the victory going 4.2 innings and scattering six hits.

Brad Zambron (2-0) picked up the win by pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball after finishing the fifth inning for Whalen. The Lake Erie bullpen trio of Zambron, Brandon Smith, and Jordan McCoy didn't allow a run in 4.1 innings of work.

The Crushers were paced offensively by Trevor Stevens, who went 3-5 with two runs batted in and a walk. PJ Torres also had a big day with two hits in four trips to the plate with three runs batted in. In a game where seven Crushers hit safely, Andrew Davis, Anderson Hidalgo, and Juan Sanchez also had multi-hit games. Craig Hertler saw his 15 game hitting streak end tonight, but did extend his on base streak to 24 games with a walk in the second inning.

The Crushers return home tomorrow to begin a three-game series with the Frontier Greys. Clint Wright (6-6, 4.79) will pitch for the Greys and Lake Erie will counter with lefty Todd Kibby (6-2, 1.97). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

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