Lake Erie Crushers Lose, Playoff Lead Slim

The Joliet Slammers have been party poopers for the all season.

Tuesday night was no exception, as the Crushers lost to the Slammers, 7-3, in Joliet, Ill. The Crushers are now 2-8 against the Slammers this season.

The loss, the Crushers' third straight, dropped them to 43-41 and also narrowed their lead over the Traverse City Beach Bums for the second and final Frontier League Eastern Division playoff spot to a half-game. The Beach Bums defeated the Rockford RiverHawks, 4-2, Tuesday night.

According to a report from the team, Lake Erie took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third as Andrew Davis' two-out double drove home Jereme Milons. But Joliet responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Crushers, however, didn't give up, taking a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Zach Messer. But the Slammers scored four runs in the seventh to put the game away.

Andrew Davis had two doubles, giving him 35 on the season, tops in the Frontier League. Paul Fagan (6-10, 4.36 earned run average) gave up seven runs on nine hits, striking out eight and walking one in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.

The Crushers and Slammers play at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday. Thomas Campbell (4-2, 2.47) will start for the Crushers.