The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Five-game winning streak snapped
Crushers’ streak snapped at five after narrow loss to Joliet
The Crushers returned to action at home against the Joliet Slammers and fell, 3-2.
Coming off a five-game winning streak entering the All-Star break, the Lake Erie Crushers had found their mojo.
But the break probably came at the wrong time, as the Crushers returned to action at home on July 14 against Joliet and fell, 3-2.
The Crushers (23-28) had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the ninth to send the 2,477 fans home happy by getting the first two men on. But third baseman Josh McAdams followed with a bunt that turned into a rare 3-5-4 double play, deflating Lake Erie’s chances.
Crushers starter Steve Hagen pitched his second-consecutive quality start — tossing seven innings and giving up three runs (one earned) and eight hits. Hagen started the final game before the All-Star break on July 9 in a 3-2 win over Florence, making him the first Crusher to start back-to-back games since Jose Rosario in June 2014 against Joliet.
The Crushers had nine total hits to Joliet’s eight.
“We did a couple things on the base paths where we forced it,” Crushers manager Cam Roth said. “McAdams had the green light there and was looking for a pitch that was down where you can get a down angle read on it and he just wasn’t able to do that. It’s a part of the game.”
Roth said he had little worries about the All-Star break stopping the Crushers’ momentum.
“I was getting text messages and phone calls from these guys and most of them were here working,” Roth said. “They had a little bit of a break but they’re anxious and itching to play again. It’s always a little bit of a thought in your head. I think we were five for six coming in after those two series and it’s a thought in your mind, but these guys are young enough that they can’t get enough of it.”
Early on, the Crushers picked up where they left off before the break, scoring a pair of second-inning runs — an RBI single from center fielder Connor Oliver and a Parker Norris RBI, scoring McAdams.
Joliet responded in the top of the fourth with a two-run blast from catcher Spencer Navin off Hagen, and a solo shot from DH Edwin Gomez in the fifth for a 3-2 lead.
“I thought Steve competed really well out there,” Roth said. “Fastball was good and was throwing offspeed pitches for strikes. A couple of them were up in the zone and they were able to handle them.”
The Crushers saw the debut of first baseman Connor Simonetti who went 3-for-4. He’s a Kent State graduate and was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 13th round of last year’s draft.
Simonetti hadn’t seen a live pitch since June 20, and singled off the first pitch he saw off Slammers starter Duke Von Schamann.
“Cam called me and said he needed a hitter for the second half, so I said I’ll be there,” Simonetti said. “My sophomore year here in this stadium, I went 0-11 in the conference tournament and last year I hit like .600. I’m just comfortable here.”
Roth added: “We were really excited for him. I got a couple phone calls on him from my resources and he was contemplating going to some workouts. I told him I don’t need him to workout, I just need him to meet us here after the All-Star break and we can get rolling. He’s a very polite kid and very respectful. Plays the game the right way and a lefthanded throwing first baseman which is what I like.”
Right fielder L.J. Kalawaia went 3-for-4 and is batting .375 on the year.
Notes
The Crushers had three representatives at the 2017 All-Star game. Closer Chandler Jagodzinski walked one batter and pitched a third of an inning, while Jordan Kurokawa picked up the win for the East team tossing a scoreless fourth inning. Catcher Tanner Lubach walked twice in both of his plate appearances and scored a run.