Washington Drops Pitchers' Duel in Series Opener
AVON, Ohio (August 26) – Friday night turned out to be another night of offensive scuffling in the series opener at Lake Erie, as the Crushers won a pitcher’s duel 2-1 against the Wild Things. The Wild Things are still in search of a big 57th win that will inch them ever so close to a West Division crown.
Lake Erie scored twice on sacrifice flies, once in the fourth and once in the seventh against Washington starter Sandro Cabrera, who suffered a tough-luck loss for the second-straight start. He’s received just one run of support, tonight’s eighth-inning RBI single by Wagner Lagrange, in those two starts. Cabrera pitched seven innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts in the opener at Mercy Health Stadium.
Dan Kubiuk pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Washington couldn’t get the tying run on base in the ninth, as it stranded eight in the one-run loss. Gunnar Kines started for Lake Erie and fanned nine. In total, 12 strikeouts were had by the Crushers’ pitchers Friday. Lagrange sported the only multi-hit night for Washington with a 2-for-4 game at the dish.
As of this writing, Gateway led Schaumburg in the middle stages of a game that if Schaumburg loses, the Boomers would be out of the West Division-title race with one more loss or one more win by Washington. If the scoreboard holds, Washington will be a win AND an Evansville loss away, or two wins away, from clinching the West title. If Schaumburg wins tonight’s game, Washington will also need a Schaumburg loss or to get to 58 wins to clinch the division.
Lake Erie and Washington will contest their middle game tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. at Mercy Health Stadium in Avon, Ohio. All-star righty Joseph Sgambelluri will take the hill for the homestanding Crushers and be opposed by Washington’s Daren Osby.
