Mejia homers twice in Crusher victory
Published on August 23, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release
AVON, Ohio -- The Lake Erie Crushers came from behind on Saturday night at All Pro Freight Stadium with a three-run rally in the ninth, and defeated the River City Rascals on Vince Mejia's walk off two-run homer in the 12th inning, 6-4.
The victory for the Crushers (50-35) was their eighth in nine extra inning games this season, and their 11th win in walk off fashion, while the loss for the Rascals (53-33) was just their second in their last five games.
Lake Erie used the long ball to score five of their six runs on the night, two coming from Mejia, who has homered multiple times on three separate occasions this season.
Mejia's first homerun came in the bottom of the second inning to give Lake Erie the early advantage.
The lead held until the Rascals scored twice in the fifth inning. River City had the bases loaded with one out, when Joe Staley belted a two-run single back up the middle to give the Rascals the lead. River City had just two hits the rest of the way.
The Rascals plated a pair of runs in the eighth inning without recording a hit. Eric Williams was hit by a pitch to start the inning and he scored as Staley reached on a fielder's choice, and Johnny Morales scored on a wild pitch.
River City appeared to be on their way to a series victory, before the Crushers rallied for three in the bottom of the ninth. Joey Burney brought Emmanuel Quiles home on a RBI groundout to bring the Crushers within two (4-2). Down to their final strike, Adam Ford continued the contest with a two-run homer over the wall in left, his second of the year.
The Crushers had a golden opportunity to win the game in the 10th inning, but Gabriel Shaw pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam with nobody out to send the game into the 11th inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, Mejia delivered the game winner on a 2-2 pitch, sending it over the wall in left field for his 15th homer of the season to score the victory.
Andy Roberts (2-0) tossed a scoreless inning of relief for Lake Erie and came away with the win. He was one of seven Crusher pitchers to see action on the night. Chandler Jagodzinski (3-1) surrendered the bomb to Mejia in the 12th and took the loss.
Anderson Hidalgo, Ryan Hutchison and Mejia paced the Lake Erie offense with two hits each. Hidalgo also walked three times on the night, and has reached base eight times in 10 plate appearances in the series.
The Crushers will finish their three-game series with the River City Rascals at All Pro Freight Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Lefty Connor Whalen (2-2, 3.97) will start for the Crushers and right-hander Bryce Shafer (2-1, 5.63) will start for the Rascals. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM.
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