FL Lake Erie Crushers

Ninth inning rally stops Lake Erie winning streak

Published on August 21, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio -- The Lake Erie Crushers saw a 4-3 lead slip away at All Pro Freight Stadium on Thursday night, as the Gateway Grizzlies used a ninth-inning rally to halt Lake Erie's five-game winning streak, in a 6-4 victory to avoid a Crusher sweep.

The loss for the Crushers (49-34) snapped a five-game winning streak, and was just their fourth in 18 games in August, while the victory for the Grizzlies (47-37) snapped a three-game losing streak.

It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the night, as the lead changed hands several times. Gateway took the early advantage just two pitches into the game, as Michael Johnson hit a solo homer, his third of the season.

The Crushers would answer in the bottom of the third. They used the long ball to tie the game, as Ryan Hutchison started the inning with his eighth bomb of the season. Adam Ford followed with a base hit, made his way to third on a single from Juan Sanchez, and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from Trevor Stevens.

Gateway came right back with a run to tie the game in the top of the fourth, but spoiled a chance to do more. The bases were loaded with nobody out, when Madison Beaird reached on a fielder's choice to score Landon Hernandez. Shortly thereafter, Beaird was picked off at first base and Andy Roberts got out of the inning as TJ Bennett grounded out.

The Crushers took advantage of a two-out error in the bottom of the fifth inning to regain the lead. Stevens reached on first baseman Ben Waldrip's error with two away, which opened the door for a Lake Erie rally. Andrew Davis followed with a single and Anderson Hidalgo walked to load the bases. Vince Mejia followed with a two-run single to left, giving Lake Erie a 4-2 lead.

Gateway shaved one run off that deficit in the sixth inning, as Michael Wing singled with two outs, and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.

The bottom of the Gateway batting order went to work to start the ninth inning rally. Bennett started the rally with a one out double to center, and scored the game-tying run moments later on a pinch-hit RBI double from Richard Seigel. Johnson followed with a RBI triple down the left field line to give Gateway the lead, and he scored the final run of the game on a wild pitch.

Brett Zawacki (4-4) tossed a perfect eighth inning in relief to score the victory, while Richard Barrett (19) tossed a scoreless ninth for the save. Trevor Longfellow (5-3) allowed three runs on three hits over 1.1 innings and took the loss.

Craig Hertler stepped in for the Crushers to pinch hit in the eighth inning, and saw his 32-game on base streak come to an end with a groundout in his only plate appearance. Mejia and Hutchison led the charge for the Crushers offensively, with two hits apiece.

The Crushers will begin a three-game series with the River City Rascals at All Pro Freight Stadium on Friday night. Righty Zach Gordon (3-3, 3.83) will start for the Crushers and right-hander Tommy Mendoza (6-3, 3.20) will start for the Rascals. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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Frontier League Stories from August 21, 2014


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