Mejia powers Crushers over Greys
Published on August 10, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release
AVON, Ohio-- The Lake Erie Crushers used a first inning grand slam from Vincent Mejia to defeat the Frontier Greys 7-3 Sunday afternoon at All Pro Freight Stadium.
The win for the Crushers (42-32) was their fourth in a row and clinched their third series victory over the Greys this season. Lake Erie has now won seven of eight series in the second half of the season. The loss for the Greys (25-49) was their fourth in a row.
Each team had 11 hits in this one, but Vincent Mejia's grand slam proved to be too much for the Greys to overcome. The Crushers were helped by a quality outing from left-hander Matt Rein (1-5), one that was good enough to help him record his first victory of the season.
Lamarre Rey (2-5) has struggled at times this season, but had two victories against Lake Erie coming in to today. However, he had trouble getting the Crushers out in inning number one. An error allowed Juan Sanchez to reach to start the game and Trevor Stevens followed with a base hit. Rey then hit Anderson Hidalgo two batters later to load the bases for Vincent Mejia. Mejia ripped a 2-0 pitch over the centerfield wall to give his team a 4-0 lead. It was the first grand slam for the Crushers this season.
Rein continued to scatter hits throughout the first four innings, before the Crushers gave him another insurance run in the bottom half. Juan Sanchez double to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He later came around to score thanks to a Trevor Stevens sacrifice fly.
Sloppy fielding allowed the Greys to get on the board in the fifth. Steven Rodgers led off the inning with a base hit. Ramon Ortega hit a groundball to third, Hidalgo threw to first to get him, but first baseman Joey Burney threw high of Hidalgo trying to get Rodgers advancing to third. The high throw allowed Rodgers to come in to score.
Rein got some payback the following inning, striking out Rodgers with the bases loaded to end the sixth. The Crushers then helped out their left-hander once more by adding another run in the bottom half. Juan Sanchez singled to start the inning, was bunted over to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anderson Hidalgo then knocked a two-out single to score Sanchez and give Lake Erie the 6-1 lead.
The Greys had one last rally in the 7th. Brandon Smith allowed a walk and two straight singles to shrink the Lake Erie lead to four runs at 6-2, before getting Joe Rapp to fly out. Brad Zambron then entered the ballgame and would allow one more run off a groundball but finished the inning strong with a strike out of Jon Minucci.
Lake Erie would add its final run of the contest in the eighth inning on yet another RBI single from Anderson Hidalgo. Closer Trevor Longfellow would then work a perfect ninth inning to close out the victory and help the Crushers take the series.
Matt Rein (1-5) earned his first victory of the season in this one. He scattered eight hits and only allowed one earned run in six innings of work. Lamarre Rey (2-5) took the loss allowing five hits and five runs in five innings of work.
The Crushers were led offensively by Vincent Mejia, Juan Sanchez, and Anderson Hidalgo. Mejia went 2-3 with four runs batted in. Sanchez had a 4-5 afternoon, scoring all four times he reached base. Hidalgo had two hits and two runs batted in. Trevor Stevens was the other lone Lake Erie player with a multi-hit game.
Lake Erie will go for the sweep tomorrow night. The Crushers will send right-hander Zach Gordon (2-3, 3.61) to the mound and the Greys will counter with Keith Picht (2-6, 6.30). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
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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- Mejia powers Crushers over Greys - Lake Erie Crushers
- Otters Going for Series Win vs. Rascals on Sunday - Evansville Otters
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