Sports

Lake Erie Crushers Lose Playoff Opener

Three-run fifth inning by Joliet Slammers puts Crushers in a hole.

A three-run fifth inning by the Joliet Slammers was the difference as the lost to the Slammers, 5-2, in the opening game of the Frontier League Eastern Division playoff series on Wednesday night in Joliet, Ill.

The Crushers played for the the third straight game without star shortstop Andrew Davis, the team reported. Davis during last weekend's regular season-closing series against the Traverse City Beach Bums.

With the game tied, 1-1, the Slammers chased starter Paul Fagan from the mound in the bottom of the fifth with their three-run spurt, led by Erik Lis' RBI triple.

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Kellen Kulbacki provided the lone offensive highlight for the Crushers, hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning. But that was the team's last run, and last hit, of the night, as the Crushers were shut down the rest of the way.

Down 1-0 in the best-of-five series, the Crushers play at the Slammers again at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Eric Gonzalez-Diaz (4-1, 3.11 earned run average) starts for the Crushers.

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The two teams play game 3 and game 4, if necessary, at . Tickets are still available at the stadium box office, the Crushers website or by calling 440-934-3636.


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