Loss drops Wild Things out of first place
AVON, Ohio – Lake Erie broke open a close game by scoring six runs in the seventh inning and defeated the Wild Things 9-1 Saturday night.
The loss dropped Washington into second place in the Frontier League’s West Division, a half-game behind Lake Erie, which has won the first two games of the three-game series.
Anthony Escobar (5-0) and three relievers combined on a seven-hitter. He struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings.
For the second night in a row, the only run Washington mustered came in the first inning. Evan Berkey started the game with a double and scored on Wagner Lagrange’s two-out triple. When the throw to third base got away, Lagrange attempted to score but was thrown out.
Lake Erie scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings against Washington starter Zach Kirby (4-4) gave up five hits and three runs over six innings.
After the Wild Things left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, the Crushers scored six times in the bottom of the inning, which was capped by a two-run single by Burle Dixon. Three of the runs in the inning were unearned because of an error.
LaGrange was the only Washington player with a multi-hit game. Lake Erie’s Walner Espinal hit a solo home run.