Lake Erie blows early lead, loses to Schaumburg in series opener at Crushers Stadium

AVON — For the first eight innings of Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Boomers, it looked as if the Crushers were headed for a routine, series-opening win. They scored two runs in the first on a pair of RBI singles from Jarrod Watkins and Scout Knotts, and though they were unable to add any more despite loading the bases, it was the perfect start to the game. Lake Erie added another in the third inning on a solo home run from Knotts and looked to be in control with recently named Frontier League All-Star Dylan Spain on the mound and rolling. Spain allowed just two baserunners in the first three innings, but was lucky to not allow a run in the fourth after a hit that likely would have scored a runner from first bounced over the wall in left for a ground-rule double, holding the runner at third. That was the last batter Spain faced, as he exited with the trainer with runners on second and third and two outs. "He's got some tightness in his shoulder," Crushers manager Jared Lemieux said. "I don't think it'll be too major." Kenny Pierson entered for the Crushers and escaped the inning with a flyout to center after walking the first batter he faced to load the bases. He was not so lucky in the fifth, as with runners on first and third and one out, the Crushers were unable to turn a double play and the Boomers got on the board. Over the next three innings, relievers Dayan Reinoso and Brandyn Sittinger combined to face the minimum and only allow one batter to reach base, setting the table for Lake Erie to finish off the win. "They were ready to go, ready to pick up their teammate," Lemieux said of his bullpen. "Kenny and Dayan did a great job of bridging us to get to our guys." Michael Brewer came in to close the game out for the Crushers, and it looked like he was going to do just that until, with runners on first and second and one out, Will Prater squeaked a ground ball past Knotts at first base and into the corner to tie the game. Brewer got out of the inning, but the game-trying triple was a gut punch for the Crushers, who recorded just three hits after the third inning. "They pitched well, you've got to tip your hat," Lemieux said. "We had a chance to add on. That's what we needed to do tonight, and we didn't, and that's what happens." Things didn't get any better for the Crushers' bullpen in the 10th, as Michael Spinozzi gave up four runs on four hits to put the game out of reach. Lake Erie had one more chance, but Dylan Stutsman retired the side on just 10 pitches to close out the game for the Boomers. Contact William Cunningham at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.