FL Lake Erie Crushers

Miners sneak past Crushers

Published on June 10, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio - A pair of sacrifice fly balls were all the Southern Illinois Miners needed to score two runs at All Pro Freight Stadium on Friday night, as they defeated the Crushers for a fourth time this season, taking the series opener, 2-1.

The loss for the Crushers (7-12) marked their fifth one run loss over their last seven games, while the victory for Southern Illinois (13-3), brought their three game losing streak to an end.

For the second night in a row, the starting pitchers stole the show. Andrew Weeks (2-2) was strong through six and a third, allowing just a pair of runs on six hits, but it was not enough to get the victory.

Josh Womack started the third inning with a double, and moved to third on Kenji Sakaguchi's sacrifice bunt, before Eric Suttle's sacrifice fly brought him home to snap a scoreless tie. Sakaguchi plated the second run for Southern Illinois in the top of the seventh, as his deep fly ball to center field scored Will Block.

Ryan Zink (2-0) flirted with danger a few times over the first four innings, allowing back-to-back hits on three occasions, but worked himself out of trouble every time. Scott Houin and Felix Martinez both singled in the first inning, but were both caught trying to steal second base.

In the second, Nick Mahin stroked a single down the left field line, and was thrown out at second trying to extend it into a double. Jason Taylor followed with a base hit, but the inning ended moments later on Joel Collins's groundout. Kellen Kulbacki and Mahin stroked back-to-back two out singles in the fourth inning, but Zink got Taylor to groundout to end the threat. After Mahin's single, Zink retired the next 10 batters he faced.

The Crushers scored their lone run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kulbacki teed off on Erik Draxton's 0-1 pitch, depositing it over the wall in right field for his first homerun of the season.

Zink tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and struck out two to get the victory, while Draxton allowed just the homerun to Kulbacki in the ninth inning, and secured his sixth save of the season.

Kulbacki, Mahin, and Houin each hit safely twice for the Crushers. Mahin has now hit safely in his last six games. Andrew Davis went 0-for-4, snapping his seven game hitting streak, and bringing his 18 game on base streak to an end.

The Crushers will continue their three game series with the Miners at All Pro Freight Stadium on Saturday night. Right hander Travis Risser (1-3, 7.11) will get the start for the Crushers, and the Miners will counter with right hander Sean Teague (1-0, 4.50).The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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Frontier League Stories from June 10, 2011


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