Lake Erie Crushers lose Game 1 of Division Series, 2-0, to Washington – Morning Journal

Following Lake Erie’s dramatic wild-card win on Sept. 3 at Gateway (the team’s first playoff win since 2013 and first postseason berth since 2019), the Crushers returned to Lorain County to host Game 1 of their Frontier League West Division Series against the Washington Wild Things on Sept. 5.

A two-run second inning for the Wild Things was the only blemish on Anthony Escobar’s six-inning night, giving up Game 1, 2-0, in the best-of-three series. Left-hander Kobe Foster (1-0) pitched seven innings for Washington, with Gyeongju Kim tossing a clean ninth inning for his first save of the 2024 postseason.

“You have to give him credit. He’s a hell of a shooter,” Crushers captain Jared Lemieux said. “He made all his pitches work today, he’s a competitor. We were going to have to work hard to get to him and unfortunately he got the better of us today.”

The Wild Things’ two second-base runs were enough to hold off the Crushers, outhitting Lake Erie seven to three. No. 8 hitter Ethan Wilder nearly got the ball over the right-field fence on a 3-2 pitch, but a ground-rule double kept baserunner Brandon McIlwain stationed at third base instead of taking the lead right then and there.

PHOTOS: Crushers vs. Washington, September 5, 2024

That brief respite gave him a chance to score two runs on a hit by Ricardo Sanchez — the first of his three hits of the night — with Escobar retiring Caleb McNeely to end the top half of the inning.

Even when Escobar found himself in one or two other jams, he clawed his way to keep Lake Erie in the game.

“Anthony has been fantastic for us all year,” Lemieux said. “I’m very proud of his effort tonight. I thought he pitched a great game and the guys played good defense behind him. He kept us in the game and gave us a chance.”

The Crushers now have to win their next two road games, Sept. 7 and 8 (if necessary), to advance to the next round after a bye day on Sept. 6. The team’s ace and All-Star Jack Eisenbarger will get the ball in Game 2, and the starting pitcher for Game 3 on Sept. 8 remains to be determined.

Quick hits

Outfielder Ron Washington Jr. is out for the year with a lower-body injury. The injury occurred in Lake Erie’s wild-card win on Sept. 3, when Washington hit a ball off his shin during an at-bat.

Originally published: September 5, 2024 at 10:43 PM