FL Lake Erie Crushers

Gronkowski Walk Off Hit Wins For Crushers Over Things

Published on August 26, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


Avon, OH-Gordon Gronkowski's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth brought home Drew Saylor with the game winning run as the Lake Erie Crushers topped the Washington Wild Things 6-5. The Crushers have now won a franchise-record five straight games.

After Washington reliever Keith Meyer got the first two outs in the ninth, Saylor hit a double to left to give the Crushers a chance. Meyer intentionally walked Andrew Davis and then Gronkowski hit the first pitch he saw into left field to bring home Saylor for the win. "I love having that pressure with the game on the line," said Gronkowski afterwards. "It's a great feeling to be able to help our team come back and get that win."

It was a back and forth game all evening long as the two teams traded leads. Washington started off quickly as they scored single runs in the first, third, and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead on Cardoza Tucker and the Crushers. But Lake Erie's offense would finally get to Wild Things starter Craig Snipp in the fourth as Andrew Davis hit a sacrifice fly to score Jodam Rivera for the Crushers' first run of the game.

Lake Erie would add a pair of runs in the fifth inning as Eddie Tisdale's RBI single scored Tyler Johnson, and an error on the same play allowed Arden McWilliams to score the game's tying run. Tisdale would collect another RBI in the sixth inning as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Crushers the lead for the first time all evening at 4-3. Davis then gave the Crushers a two-run lead in the seventh with an RBI double that brought home Rivera. But Washington refused to surrender as they came back in the eighth with a pair of runs. Matt Sutton's fourth hit of the night, a single to left, brought home Grant Psomas to bring the Wild Things within a run. Chris Rainiere followed with a double play grounder that brought home Ryan Groth to tie the game.

The Crushers are now 51-35 on the season and will close out their series with Washington, and their six-game homestand Thursday evening at 7:05. Paul Fagan will get the start against Jason Neitz..

The Lake Erie Crushers are the newest expansion team in the Frontier League, an independent professional league with 12 teams throughout the Midwest. The team plays its home games at All Pro Freight Stadium, the new 5,000 capacity ballpark located at the intersection of I-90 and Route 611 in Avon. Season tickets and Mini-plans 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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Frontier League Stories from August 26, 2009


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