Crushers Fall 10-8 to Slammers Despite Acevedo’s Two Homers

AVON, Ohio – The Lake Erie Crushers kept chipping away Wednesday night, but the Joliet Slammers had just enough to hold on for a 10 to 8 victory at ForeFront Field. The loss dropped Lake Erie to 20 and 27 on the season.

Joliet opened the scoring in the first inning with consecutive doubles, and center fielder Kadon Morton added an RBI single for a 2 to 0 lead. Designated hitter Samuel Benjamin answered in the bottom half with his third home run in his last four games, pulling the Crushers within one.

Slammers Pull Away in the Middle Innings

Joliet added a run in the third against Crushers starter Brandon Scott. The fourth inning proved costly for Lake Erie. Third baseman Patrick Ward led off with a home run over the right field fence, and aggressive Joliet baserunning helped push the lead to 7 to 1.

Lake Erie answered right away in the bottom of the fourth. Pavin Parks drew a four pitch walk and Alfredo Gonzalez followed with a sharp single. Right fielder Garret Pike then connected on a home run that scored three, his fourth of the season, cutting the deficit to 7 to 4.

Jackson Beaman homered for Joliet in the fifth, and former Crusher Jackson Valera doubled home a run in the sixth. That marked the fifth consecutive inning with a Joliet run.

Acevedo Powers the Comeback

Second baseman Luis Acevedo blasted a two run home run over the left field wall in the sixth to bring Lake Erie within three. Joe Redfield walked to open the seventh and scored when Gonzalez lined an RBI double that landed just fair.

Acevedo struck again in the eighth, taking Joliet reliever Carlos Soto deep for his second home run of the night. He became the first Crushers hitter with a multi home run game since Parks accomplished the feat on June 11 against the Evansville Otters.

Joliet added an insurance run in the ninth against Brandyn Sittinger. Lake Erie threatened in its final at bat but could not complete the comeback.

Scott took the loss, his fifth of the season. Ben Vitas earned the win for Joliet, and Casey O’Dell picked up the save.

Up Next

The Crushers wrap up the series with Joliet on Thursday, July 2, on a Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark. Select drafts are $2.50 all night. Tickets are available at LECrushers.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Joliet Slammers defeated the Lake Erie Crushers 10 to 8 at ForeFront Field. The loss dropped Lake Erie to 20 and 27 on the season.

Samuel Benjamin, Garret Pike (a three-run homer) and Luis Acevedo, who homered twice. Acevedo became the first Crushers hitter with a multi-home run game since Pavin Parks did it on June 11 against the Evansville Otters.

Down 7 to 1, Lake Erie chipped away with Garret Pike’s three-run homer in the fourth, Luis Acevedo’s two-run shot in the sixth, an RBI double from Alfredo Gonzalez, and Acevedo’s second homer in the eighth, but could not complete the rally.

Brandon Scott took the loss, his fifth of the season, for Lake Erie. Ben Vitas earned the win for Joliet and Casey O’Dell picked up the save.

The Crushers wrap up the series with Joliet on Thursday, July 2, a Thirsty Thursday with select drafts $2.50 all night. Tickets are available at LECrushers.com.