Fans Enjoy Opening Night Despite Crushers Loss

At least fans enjoyed a fine fireworks display.

Blasts set off by slugger Erik Lis and his Joliet Slammers teammates were not nearly as much fun for the home team and its fans in a 7-4 loss Friday night.

“When we score four runs in our park, we should win,” Crushers manager John Massarelli said.

A crowd of 2,709 came to in a festive mood for the much-awaited home opener. Fans were eager to see the Crushers unveil some new players, new promotions, and new food items.

They also relished a turn back the clock early in the game as two players who helped the Crushers win a championship in 2009 helped them go ahead.

 Shortstop Andrew Davis had two hits and drove in the first run of the home season to support the pitching of Paul Fagan in his return to the Crushers.

 Massarelli was happy to play at home, though he thinks a season-opening trip in which the Crushers went 3-3 helped build some character.

 “The road is always a good place to come together as a team,” Massarelli said. “A nine-game trip went a long way in that regards with the expansion team.”

 That was in 2009, when the first-year Crushers won the Frontier League championship.

Fagan had the best year of his career then, going 14-3 with a 2.70 ERA and was named the league’s pitcher of the year. He went 2-1 in the playoffs as the Crushers defeated River City in five games in the championship series.

Friday night, he made his first appearance in a Lake Erie uniform since. He worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits.

“I felt good to be back at home,” Fagan said. I’m just ready for a good season and want to bring the trophy back over here.”

Fagan was traded away a year ago, but reacquired last week. Masserelli didn’t want to make the first deal, but was eager to get the left-hander back.

“The rules were that you could only keep three veteran players and ordinarily you want those to be everyday players,” Massarelli said. “We just didn’t have room for Paul last year, so we made a trade.

“When the rules changed this year (allowing more players with experience), we didn’t have to think long about making a deal. He fits right into our plans.

“Paul has had success in this league, in this ballpark and the enthusiasm he brings to the team is great. Some of our core fans will recognize him and be happy.”

Fagan signed this year with the Windy City Thunderbolts and was scheduled to start last Friday against the Crushers. Instead, he was traded to Lake Erie for a player to be named.

"I hadn't faced a batter in two weeks," Fagan said. "I ran my pitch count up a little bit."

Paul Daniels replaced Fagan with a 4-1 lead and worked two innings, giving up a solo homer to Lis, a former Minnesota Twins farmhand in his first year in the league.

Then Jeff Cinadr was hit hard and took the loss. The side-arming right-hander, an all-star in 2010 when he went 4-3 with a 2.21 ERA and eight saves for the Crushers, yielded two-run homers to Josh Flores and Lis – the second an epic shot down the right-field line that nearly landed on Interstate 90.

“He was up in the zone with a lot of his pitches and it cost him,” Massarelli said.

Fagan had compassion for Cinadr. He had faced the brawny Lis in the past with similar results.

“Back in 2006, he hit one off me that was way longer than that,” Fagan said. “Only it was a lot higher and farther, right down the line. We all waited for the umpire to signal, even though I knew it was gone. He couldn’t see that far and said, ‘Foul.’

“Yeah, whatever. Didn’t make any difference. He hit one about 900 feet off me anyway.”

Fagan said Lis is just one of the many new players who make the Frontier League more competitive in 2011.

“We have some real talent on our team, too,” he said. “Two years ago, we had a lot of heart. This year, we have better players overall.”

Davis, back for a third season with the Crushers, put Lake Erie ahead with an RBI single in the first inning. Newcomer Patrick Norris drew a leadoff walk, got his third stolen base of the season, and easily scored on Davis’ one-out single.

Norris totaled 138 stolen bases in four minor-league seasons in the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals farm systems.

Collins made it 2-0 with a long home run in the second inning.

After Joliet got within 2-1 in the third, the Crushers took advantage of three straight walks in the fourth inning to score twice. Collins had a sacrifice fly and new third baseman Jason Taylor added an RBI single to make it 4-1.

Massarelli wouldn't use it as an excuse, but the Crushers had to be plenty tired after their bus rolled in at 7 a.m. Friday from Illinois. He admitted it took its "toll".

"I kept trying to sleep, but we had so many tolls to pay," he said. "I woke up at every toll booth."

The Crushers and Slammers play again at 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 5:05 p.m. Sunday.