Washington Falls 10-0 in Series Opener
AVON, Ohio (May 18) - The second game of the Wild Things' doubleheader sweep of the Gateway Grizzlies yesterday was a pitchers’ duel, with Washington winning 1-0. After 2.5 innings, Friday's series opener with the Lake Erie Crushers looked to be headed in a similar direction. Five runs in the third and four more in the fourth, however, propelled the Crushers (5-2) to a 10-0 win over Washington (4-3).
Wild Things' starter Ryan Castellanos looked sharp early on, setting down the first seven batters he faced. After retiring designated hitter Brady Conlan to start the bottom of the third, he hit catcher Bryan DeLaRosa, who came around to score one batter later when right fielder Dalton Wheat tripled. Wheat subsequently crossed the plate on a single by center fielder Cameron Newell. After Newell's single, the Crushers big inning climaxed when left fielder Sean Hurley hit a two-run home run to make it 4-0.
After first baseman Conner Simonetti singled and second baseman Aaron Hill walked, Lake Erie added on when Simonetti scored on an error by Washington second baseman Carter McEachern. By the time the inning ended, the Crushers had sent 10 men to the plate.
Lake Erie busted the game open in its next at-bat when a three-run homer by
shortstop Kevin LaChance made it 8-0. That closed the book on Castellanos (0-1), who allowed eight runs—seven earned—on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Hurley greeted reliever Griffin Krieg with his second homer of the game to complete a four-run inning. He ended the night going 3-4 with a walk, two homers and three RBI. Hurley was one of five Lake Erie hitters to have a multi-hit night. The Crushers added their 10th and final run in the bottom of the eighth on a single by third baseman Dane Hutcheon.
The Crushers’ productive offensive showing was complemented by starting pitcher Alex Romero (1-1), who pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while walking three and striking out four.
The middle game of this three-game set will take place tomorrow evening at 7:05. Frank Trimarco (1-0), making his first start in 2018, will oppose Juan Perez (1-0) for Lake Erie.
