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FL Lake Erie Crushers

Lack of Firepower

July 4, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio - The Lake Erie Crushers were defeated by the Windy City ThunderBolts, 7-0, as the ThunderBolts were given another good pitching performance and the offense awoke to down the Crushers.

The Crushers (16-25) have now lost six of their last eight games. For the ThunderBolts (16-26), the win marks their first victory in a week and their third on the road.

Windy City scored first in the second inning as Austin Gallagher slammed a home run over the left field fence. The next batter, Jacob Tanis then reached on a dropped third strike. The wild pitch went all the way to the backstop and Tanis went to first. Marquis Riley was next up and he hit a ground rule double that hopped over the short fence down the left field line. With Tanis at third and Ransom LaLonde batting, Crushers catcher Emmanuel Quiles threw a pickoff attempt to third and Anderson Hidalgo was able to tag Tanis out before he could slide into third. LaLonde would then hit a single into center that would score Riley and put the T-Bolts up by two.

The ThunderBolts would strike again in the fifth inning. Tyler Clark led off with a walk issued by Crushers starter Zach Morton (2-1). Clark would move to second on a single off the bat of Coco Johnson. He would then move to third on a double play that retired Johnson and Michael Torres. With two outs, Jonathan Garcia hit a single to left that plated Clark and put the Bolts up by three runs.

The ThunderBolts were not done as Torres hit an infield single to lead off the seventh inning and went to second as the throw to first by Trevor Stevens went past Joey Burney and bounced into the seats. Torres then reached third on a wild pitch. Garcia came up and hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Juan Sanchez who knocked the ball down but could not get anyone out. Garcia would then steal second as Austin Gallagher struck out. With runners on second and third, Jacob Tanis was intentionally walked to load the bases. Riley then hit a one out single that scored Torres and Garcia. Later in the inning, with two outs, LaLonde roped a double to left that scored both Tanis and Riley and the Bolts were up by seven.

The Crushers had four hits and only had seven reach base safely. Austin Prott was the only Crusher to reach second base, and he did so twice. In the fourth inning, Prott was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Prott then led off the seventh with a single and moved to second on a single by Anderson Hidalgo. He was stranded at second both times.

For the Crushers, Morton went five innings, striking out four, allowing eight hits and a season-high three earned runs and picked up the loss. Todd Kibby came on in relief and pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Kolby Moore then came on in the seventh but only lasted 1/3 of an inning as he allowed three hits and four earned runs. Matt Brankle pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing a hit and striking out one. Windy City's starter, Jake Fisher (2-4) was awarded the win as he went seven innings and allowed only four hits, striking out two Crushers.

The Crushers wrap up the homestand with the Windy City ThunderBolts at All Pro Freight Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Lake Erie will start right hander Hunter Adkins (1-3, 2.13). The ThunderBolts will start left hander Austin Wright (2-6, 4.50). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.

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