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FL Lake Erie Crushers

Rally Comes up Short

July 4, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Oh.-- The Lake Erie Crushers fought back but couldn't overcome an early 6-0 deficit, eventually falling to the Frontier Greys 7-5 in front of a season-high crowd of 5,060 Friday night at All Pro Freight Stadium.

The loss for the Crushers (22-21) was their fourth consecutive home series opening loss, while the win for the Greys (11-32) was just their second win in their last nine games.

The Greys jumped out to a 6-0 lead after six innings thanks in part to two two-run home runs and never looked back. The Crushers answered with five runs combined in the sixth and seventh inning, before eventually falling 7-5.

Frontier got the scoring started in the top of the third inning. Zach Tanner led off the inning with a single, one of his two hits on the night. After Matt Rein(0-4) retired the next two batters, Jon Dziomba singled with two outs to give the Greys the early lead.

The two long balls came in the fourth and sixth inning for the Greys. Chris Ellison hit a chopper to Joey Burney at first base to lead off the inning but his flip to Rein at first was not in time. The next batter Michael Vaughn crushed the first ball he saw over the fence to give Frontier a 3-0 lead, his second home run of the season.

Joe Rapp led off the sixth inning with a single and after two consecutive strikeouts; a two-out rally began. Frank Florio belted a 2-run home run over the right field fence to extend the Greys lead to five. The next batter Jon Minucci walked and was brought home on a standup RBI triple off the bat of Tanner.

The Crushers had the lead off runner aboard in five of the first six innings and finally capitalized on it in the sixth. Craig Hertler walked to lead off the inning and scored Lake Erie's first run on a double by Emmanuel Quiles that went over the head of the centerfielder Chris Ellison. Vincent Mejia brought home Quiles with a two-run home run over the left field fence to cut the Greys lead in half at 6-3.

Lake Erie inched even closer in the next inning. Ryan Hutchison led off the inning with a double, his second of the night. The next two batters Joey Burney and Juan Sanchez walked to load the bases for Hertler. Hertler hit a ball off the right field fence that scored Hutchison but a good relay throw from Dziomba at second nailed Burney at home plate. The next batter Quiles grounded out to short to score Sanchez and cut the once six run lead all the way to one. Jared Leverett struck out Andrew Davis with the tying run only ninety feet away to end the threat.

The Greys added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a passed ball, but the six runs are all they would need. Lake Erie brought the tying run to the plate twice in the ninth inning, but Leverett retired Hertler and Sanchez to end the ballgame.

Lammarre Rey (1-2) picked up his first win of the season in this one allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Matt Rein took the loss for the Crushers, surrendering six runs on seven hits in six innings of work.

Mejia led the way for Lake Erie offensively, going 3-4 at the plate with two runs batted in and coming just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Hutchison and Burney also had two hits each.

The Crushers continue their weekend series with the Greys tomorrow night. Right hander Zac Treece (1-1, 1.94) will throw for Lake Erie. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

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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