Errors hurt Lake Erie Crushers in 7-4 loss to division-leading Schaumburg

Almost halfway through the season, Lake Erie is looking for its first series sweep.

After sweeping a doubleheader from Schaumburg July 1, Lake Erie starter Payton Lobdell was roughed up for four runs in the first four innings on July 2. The defense struggled, as well, committing three errors as the Crushers fell to East Division-leading Schaumburg, 7-4, in front of 1,382 at Sprenger Stadium.

“We just didn’t execute on a lot of mistakes and capitalize and what he (Schaumburg starter Kagan Hopkins) was doing,” Lake Erie Manager Cameron Roth said. “I thought the energy level was down. Doubleheader (July 1) and come in here for a 2:05 game. But they were able to come up, step up to the plate and have a better energy level.”

Kyle Ruchim’s lead-off ground-rule double proved to be an ominous start for Lobdell (2-6). Ruchium scored on Sean Godfrey’s single to right.

In the second inning, Lobdell’s pick-off attempt on Josh Gardiner went into foul territory for a two-base error. Gardiner scored on Ryan O’Malley’s single to center.

The fourth inning proved to be Lobdell’s last. Back-to-back singles started the innings. Ruchim continued the streak with a triple to right field which scored James Keller and Jack Parenty and give the Boomers a 4-0 lead.

“I don’t think (Payton) really had a good feel for his off-speed, specifically the slider,” Roth said. “His fastball command was a little iffy too. When you can’t pitch off your fastball you aren’t going to have very good results. I don’t care if you are playing the ’86 Mets or the Boomers of 2017. It’s just not going to work.”

The Crushers (18-26) sliced the deficit in half with Brandon Murray driving home Jordan Dean in the fourth inning. Tanner Lubach blasted his seventh homer run of the season over the left field wall to make it 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

But the Boomers answered in the top of the sixth inning taking advantage of some Lake Erie miscues.

Josh Gardiner walked and was safe on a fielder’s choice when Crushers shortstop Parker Norris pulled his foot off second base too early.

Gardiner scored on Parenty’s single. Ruchium drove in his third run of the game with a single to right field and push the Boomers’ lead to 6-2.

After Josh McAdams RBI ground-rule double trimmed the deficit, Seth Spivey put an exclamation point on Schaumburg’s game with a solo blast to right.

Though the Crushers scored in the ninth inning, any hopes of a comeback were slammed shut with Alec Kenilvort getting the final out for his seventh save of the season.

What disappointed Roth the most wasn’t the loss, but the intangibles were and where he thought they needed to be.

“Energy and how we play the game is something we can control,” Roth said. “We can control how hard we play the game. That is what is more disappointing than anything is just the lack of intensity that we able to execute throughout the game.”

Lake Erie continues the homestand July 3 when they host Evansville at 7:05.