The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Offense awakens in victory over Miners
Crushers have won seven of their last 10 games, despite struggles at plate
After being limited to a total of six hits in their prior three games the Crushers’ offense came to life June 17 in an 8-1 win over the Southern Illinois Miners before 864 at Mercy Health Stadium
Third baseman Brody Wofford crushed a three-run home run to go with a two-run double and shortstop Trevor Achenbach added a two-run double to lead a Crushers offense that entered the game last in the Frontier League in batting average (.201) and 13 out of 14 teams in home runs (7).
The win improved the Crushers to 9-11 on the season and despite struggling offensively in recent games, they’ve still managed to win 7-of-their-last-10.
The win was a big one. Lake Erie had lost its last two straight games and collected a total of six hits in its past three games.
Wofford’s home run was the big blow. It came in the fourth inning with two outs and the Crushers trailing 1-0. Wofford didn’t wait as he pounced on a first pitch from Southern Illinois starter Trent Johnson and sent it soaring over the right field wall for his second home run of the campaign.
And it seemed to spark the Crushers offense back to life.
“That was big. It was a big lift and it came at the right time for us. Brody has been swinging the bat well most of the time. He’s had quality at bats and that’s what we need out of some of those guys,” said Crushers manager Dan Rohn.
Rohn had tired of his team’s hitting woes and had long talk with them after a June 16 6-1 loss to the Miners in which they managed just three hits. That loss came the night after the Crushers were no-hit in the seven-inning second game of doubleheader on June. 15
“I told them last night to stay aggressive,” Rohn said of his clubhouse meeting. “I don’t care if you strike out, just get three hacks in. I’m just tired of guys swinging and missing at the first pitch and taking the next two down the middle for strikes and bitching at the umpire.”
Wofford, who added a two-run double in the eighth inning, said he went up to the plate looking for his pitch before his fourthinning home run.
“Baseball is a hard game.
Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad. I just wanted to stay aggressive tonight and keep it out of the umpire’s hands and just keep balls in play. You put balls in play and good things happen,” said Wofford.
Paul Hall Jr., worked the first five innings to pick up his first win of the year and even his record to 1-1. He also lowered his ERA from 6.06 to 5.06 after allowing just one run and five hits while striking out six.
“He started off a little shaky but settled in and got us through five and that was plenty,” Rohn said.
The Crushers played their second straight game without an error.
Left-hander reliever JT Perez had another strong outing. He pitched two innings of scoreless relief and struck out four. In the process he lowered his ERA to 0.75.
What’s next: The Crushers head out of town to take on the Washington Wild Things for a three-game series June 18-20. They return home June 22 for a threegame series against Quebec.