The ThunderBolts were looking for a fresh start as they began the second half of the Frontier League season at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, OH on Friday night. Instead, they suffered their fifth straight loss as Matthew Smith and the Lake Erie Crushers took them down 12-1.
The scoring began in the game when Drew Saylor hit his third home run of the season leading off the second inning for Lake Erie, the only hit Dustin Williams would allow through the first three innings. The Bolts tied it up in the fourth when Zach Aakhus singled and scored on a Ryne White double.
In the bottom of the fourth, though, the Crushers broke the game open. They scored seven runs on six hits in the frame in taking an 8-1 lead. Big hits came from Raphael Turner, who knocked in two runs on a double, Jodam Rivera, who had an RBI double and Eddie Tisdale who drove in a run on a triple. Williams was chased from the game after giving up all eight runs in 3.2 innings.
Lake Erie did not let up, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth before Andrew Davis’ two-run seventh inning homer finished the scoring at 12-1.
The Bolts and Crushers equaled each other with nine hits, but Lake Erie was benefited by more timely hitting as well as nine walks and three hit batters from the Windy City pitching staff. Matthew Smith did not walk a batter.
Smith earned the win, throwing eight innings with five strikeouts and allowing just the one run. He improves to 7-3. Williams took his third loss of the season, dropping to 2-3.
Game two between the Bolts and Crushers is Saturday night at 6:05. Andrew Werner (5-2) takes the hill for Windy City against Lake Erie’s Travis Risser (5-2). The game from Lake Erie can be heard on WXAV 88.3 f.m.
