Lake Erie score 4 in 9th to beat Wild Things
If the Lake Erie Crushers eventually climb into the thick of the Frontier League’s playoff race in the Midwest Conference, then it likely will have much to do with their performance against the Wild Things.
Lake Erie, which is 14 games behind the first-place Wild Things in the Central Division, has played some of its best baseball against Washington. In 10 meetings, Lake Erie has a 6-4 record against the Wild Things and its pitchers have thrown three shutouts. In a series opener Tuesday night, three Crushers pitchers stymied Washington hitters one more time.
Alex Garbrick and two relievers combined on a three-hitter, Joe Redfield hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the top of the ninth inning and Lake Erie defeated the Wild Things 5-1 at EQT Park.
The game went to the ninth tied 1-1. The Crushers then loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit against Washington reliever Max Folkman (0-1), who was making only his third professional outing. Lake Erie took advantage of a hit batsman that started the ninth, a sacrifice bunt by Jarrod Watkins, an intentional walk to Luis Acevedo and a walk on a 3-2 pitch to Nick Chavez, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup.
That brought up the left-handed hitting Redfield to face Folkman, also a southpaw. Redfield drove a pitch to the gap in right centerfield that made it to the wall, scoring Garret Pike and Acevedo and giving the Crushers a 3-1 lead.
Sebastian Alexander followed with a seeing-eye single through the right side of a drawn-in infield, scoring two runs and pushing the Lake Erie lead to 5-1.
Lake Erie closer Brandyn Sittinger retired all three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth. Former Wild Things reliever Kenny Pierson (1-0) pitched the eighth to get the win.
For seven innings Washington starter Kelvin Perez and Garbrick put up matching dominant performances. Perez gave up a run in the top of the first inning and Garbrick allowed the Wild Things’ only run in the bottom of the first.
Perez and Garbrick both cut through the opponent’s lineup like a hot knife going through butter after the initial inning. Perez pitched a career-high 6 1/3 innings, allowing only three hits and two walks. He struck out six and exited after throwing 98 pitches.
Garbrick was even better. He looked nothing like the pitcher who entered the game with a 6.75 ERA. Garbrick allowed only three hits over seven innings. He walked just one and struck out seven. Six times he faced only three Washington hitters in an inning and, with the help of two caught stealings, faced the minimum 18 batters over his final six frames.
Lake Erie took a 1-0 lead when Redfield led off the game with a triple off the wall in right centerfield and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pavin Parks.
Washington tied it at 1-1 after Anthony Brocato hit a two-out double to center field and Andrew Czech followed with a single to center field. Brocato was thrown out at home plate by Alexander, the Crushers’ center fielder, but home plate umpire Nicholas Webb ruled that Chavez, the catcher, had blocked home plate. That allowed Brocato to score.
The only other Washington hit was in the seventh inning when Czech singled with one out. He was eventually caught stealing. Washington had only one baserunners reach scoring position after the first inning. Cole Fowler walked in the eighth and was stranded at second base.
Extra bases
The Washington Wild Things announced Tuesday that they have traded infielder Benjamin Rosengard to the Long Beach Coast of the Pioneer League in exchange for future considerations. Rosengard played in the Pioneer League last year and won its batting title, hitting .463 for Idaho Falls. He was acquired by the Wild Things in a spring training trade this year with Lancaster of the Atlantic League. Because of a back injury, Rosengard was limited to one game before late June. He played in 13 games with Washington and was batting .241 with 13 hits, all singles. The trade left Washington at 23 active players, two under the Frontier League limit. … Washington is 13-12 against the Central Division and 28-8 against the rest of the league.