What could go wrong in the ninth inning did go wrong for the Lake Erie Crushers.
Leading, 5-3, heading into the final inning, the Crushers gave up three runs in the top of ninth and fell to the Tri-City ValleyCats, 6-5, on July 28.
The game was in Lake Erie’s (27-37) hands after a four-run first inning and a strong pitching performance from Matt Mulhearn. However, it’s hard to keep a good team like Tri-City (40-24) at bay for too long.
“We were executing pitches and playing good defense,” Crushers manager Jared Lemieux said. “That’s a tough team, we were taking it to them, but that’s baseball right there. That’s why people come out and watch the games, because it’s a very exciting ball game.”
Entering the ninth inning, Lake Erie closer Alexis Rivero came in for relief. After recording the first out, Oscar Campos hit a single. Ian Walters was retired for the second out, but then the game got away from the Crushers.
Lamar Briggs hit a single to put runners on the corners, and Tanner Smith followed it up with a two-RBI double to tie the game. It appeared the Crushers got out of the inning on a Jaxon Hallmark ground ball, but he beat out the throw to first. In the meantime, Smith scored from second base as the throw from first basemen Josh Rego to catcher John Tuccillo was dropped.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Crushers’ attempt to get their win back ended as excruciatingly as the top of the inning. Zach Racusin led off with a double that beat the right fielder. Scout Knotts and Jack Harris both drew walks to load the bases with no outs. With the game-winning run just two bases away, the game swung back in the ValleyCats favor.
Kemuel Thomas-Rivera lined out to pitcher Coleman Huntley III, and it resulted in a double play when he turned and threw out Racusin at third. Rego grounded out on the next at-bat to end the game.
“Now you have to turn the page,” Lemieux said. “What does Ted Lasso say? ‘The mind of a goldfish.’ Just turn the page and move on the next day like today never happened. You have to look at the positives and remember them.”
Despite the outcome, there are a lot of positives to take away from this game for the Crushers. For eight innings, they were in complete control and Mulhearn held down the potent ValleyCat offense. In seven innings, he gave up only four hits and three runs.
Two of Tri-City’s runs came on solo home runs, so the damage was limited for the most part. After being injured in his last outing against the ValleyCats, Mulhearn was ready to go in this one.
“I just think trying to get ahead (was important), lately I haven’t been sharp getting ahead,” he said. “Going up against this team, you can’t fall behind them because they are one of the best offenses in the league.”
Even with a solid start from Mulhearn, he got some big help in the first inning with four runs from the offense. Tri-City pitcher Andrew Dietz had a tough time locating the strike zone with 21 balls in the first inning alone, and the Crushers took advantage.
Both Racusin and Jiandido Tromp drew walks to start the game, and Todd Isaacs Jr. flew out into a sacrifice RBI. Harris followed it up with an RBI single, and Thomas-Rivera also hit a single. Both players later scored in the inning after both Tuccillo and Sam Frontino got to first base on walks and hit by pitches with the bases loaded. Rego also added a home run in the bottom of the third.
“I’m really happy with my guys’ at-bats today,” Lemieux said. “They were well disciplined for most of the day, they were waiting to get their pitches. I really liked what I saw.”
The series continues at 6:05 p.m. on July 29.
