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FL Lake Erie Crushers

Early success produces season best, sixth straight win

August 13, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


JOLIET, Ill. -- The Lake Erie Crushers scored seven times in the first three innings of Wednesday night's contest against the Joliet Slammers, and came away with their sixth straight victory, in a 9-3 win at Silver Cross Field.

The six game winning streak for the Crushers (44-32) is their longest of the season, while the loss for the Slammers (29-48) was their sixth in their last seven games.

Just like the night before, the Crushers fired the first shot, scoring in the top of the first inning. The inning began with back-to-back base hits from Craig Hertler and Emmanuel Quiles. A balk by Joliet starting pitcher Matt Crim (1-3) advanced them both, and Anderson Hidalgo drove Hertler home on a sacrifice fly.

Hertler struck again in the second inning, with what would turn out to be the hit of the game. The bottom of the order took advantage of a pair of walks and an errant throw to load the bases, and Hertler smashed his second homer of the season. The Grand Slam was Lake Erie's second of the year, and their second in their last three games.

Lake Erie improved on that 5-0 advantage one inning later. Juan Sanchez belted a one out single in the top of the third, and he scored a few pitches later on Vince Mejia's RBI triple down the right field line. Adam Ford followed with a RBI base hit to plate Mejia.

The Crushers added two more in the top of the ninth. Hidalgo reached on a one-out single and scored on Sanchez's RBI double down the line in right. Mejia then hit a pop up on the infield that former Crusher Russ Moldenhauer dropped at first base, which scored Sanchez.

Joliet plated their only three runs in the bottom of the ninth. They got their final two on a homer from Moldenhauer, his ninth of the season.

Connor Whalen (2-2) was outstanding, tossing six scoreless innings and allowed just a pair of hits while fanning seven batters to score the victory. Crim took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits over four innings of action.

Hertler turned in another two-hit performance, going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and four RBI, and he's reached in 27 consecutive games. Sanchez hit safely a couple of times and scored twice. He's now hit safely in seven straight games and has scored eight runs in his last five games. Mejia also hit safely twice, going 2-for-5. Ford reached twice and extended his on base streak to 12 games in the process. Hidalgo went 1-for-4 and has now hit safely in six straight games.

The Crushers will finish their three-game series with the Joliet Slammers at Silver Cross Field on Thursday night. Righty Jason Wilson (7-4, 2.53) will start for the Crushers and left-hander Matt Costello (0-0, 3.48) will start for the Slammers. 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 2014 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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