The Crushers had their chances to win a second straight game with strong pitching, but fell short late to the Quebec Capitales on a ninth-inning hit, 2-1, May 13 at Mercy Health Stadium.
Kyle Seebach had a solid first outing of the season for the Crushers, giving up only hit and two total base runners in five innings. Quebec got on the board first in the top of the sixth, and Lake Erie answered in the seventh to tie it at 1-1. Sam Curtis got the save last night, but took the loss in this one after giving up the game-winning run in the top of the ninth.
Both teams are now 1-1 and will play again at 2:05 p.m. on May 14 in the series finale.
“Everybody did well tonight. It was a real clean game,” Crushers manager Jared Lemieux said. “That’s a very good ball club with one of the best pitchers in the league on the mound (Carlos Sano). I thought we competed very well tonight.”
Curtis only gave up two hits in the top of the ninth, and that was how little the margin for error was in this game with good defense on both sides. Seebach and Quebec starter Carlos Sano both went five innings, and the game remained scoreless while they were both in.
Seebach retired the first 11 batters of the game, until David Glaude drew a walk with two outs in the top of the fourth inning for Quebec’s first base runner. Jonathan Lacroix got the Capitales’ first hit with a single in the fifth inning. With a performance like that against the defending Frontier League champs in his first game action this season, Seebach is glad to get off to a good start.
“I’m feeling really good,” Seebach said. “It feels good to face live competition again after all of these months. Every good outing is a boost of confidence. I can still do some things to improve in the next outing as well.”
Elliot Carney entered the game in the sixth to relieve Seebach, and the Capitales capitalized. Reece Yeargain led off the inning with a base hit and later scored from second with two outs on an RBI single from Glaude.
Quebec looked to go up by even more in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. However, Yeargain grounded into a double play to end the inning. Brendon Dadson touched his bag at third and threw it home to get Kyle Crowl out at the plate on the forceout.
Down to their final out in the seventh, the Crushers rallied to tie it up. Todd Isaacs Jr. recorded his third hit of the game with a single, and Santiago Chirino sent him home with an RBI double of his own.
Lake Erie went through two more pitchers in the eighth, but kept Quebec off of the scoreboard. Curtis came in for the ninth inning, and hits from Crowl and Ryan Roell gave the lead back to the Capitales.
To start the bottom of the ninth inning, John Tuccillo came in to pinch-hit, and he laced a single on a hard line drive. Sam Frontino sacrifice bunted to get him into scoring position, and Sean Cheely struck out for the second out. Heading into this at-bat 3-for-4 on the night, Isaacs Jr. was the best option to tie it up for the Crushers. However, he popped up to second to end it.
“The first two games, I’m really happy with my ball club,” Lemieux said. “It would’ve been nice to get some clutch hits here and there today, but this was a tough ball club we faced. I’m just happy with the fight in this club right now. We just have to keep the pressure on (tomorrow). These boys will rebound quickly.”
