Eric Gonzalez-Diaz Pitches Lake Erie Crushers over Joliet Slammers

Eric Gonzalez-Diaz and Ruben Flores combined to pitch the to a crucial 7-2 win over the Joliet Slammers Thursday night in Joliet, Ill.

With the win, the Crushers (45-41) keep their half-game lead over the Traverse City Beach Bumseat the Rockford RiverHawks, 5-1, Thursday.

It was also the first time this season that the Crushers had won a series against the Slammers, who are leading the Eastern Division by 5 1/2 games over the Crushers with just over a week left in the regular season.

Gonzalez-Diaz (3-1, 3.04 earned run average) pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking no one, the team reported. Flores pitched two inning of relief, giving up just one hit while striking out five, and got his 18th save of the season.

Andrew Davis had two hits and two RBI for the Crushers. One of his hits was his league-leading 36th double of the season. Kellen Kulbacki had a two-run double in the first inning to get the Crushers' scoring started.

The Crushers return to All Pro Freight Stadium on Friday to open a three-game series against the RiverHawks. Josh Roberts (8-6, 4.58) starts for the Crushers. Game time is 7:05 p.m.