(AVON, OH) - Canada – The Lake Erie Crushers (13-18) took the first game ever played between them and the London Rippers (13-18), 4-2, thanks to a critical error by Ripper starter Jamie Richmond.

The Crushers won the first game of the three game series and the pivotal moment occurred when they scored three runs in the top of the second inning.  Jason Taylor (1-3, B, R) worked a walk to extend his on base streak to 16 games and then Kellen Kulbacki (1-4, R) continued his hot hitting as well with a single, which set the plate for Brandon Decker (0-3, R).

Decker dropped a beautiful bunt back to Ripper starter Jamie Richmond, but Richmond’s throw to first went well wide of the bag allowing Taylor to score and Kulbacki to move up to third while Decker took second.  JC Figueroa (0-4) followed with an RBI groundout to second base and after Brian Erie (0-4) struck out, Adrian Ortiz (3-4, RBI, R) followed with a two out single, one of three singles for him on the night.  All three runs in the inning were unearned.

The Crushers were able to add another insurance run in the top of the fifth inning when Ortiz led off with a double.  After Kuzdale struck out swinging (he did not reach base tonight, thus ending his streak of 18 straight games of reaching base safely) and Ortiz stole second base, Andrew Davis (1-4, RBI) singled to left field to drive in the fourth run of the game and that was all the runs the Crushers would need.

The only scoring the Rippers were able to produce came in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a bizarre play.  After Jim Vahalik (3-4) led off the inning with a single, Alex Loftin (W, 2-0, 0.82) was able to get Clifton Thomas (0-4) to fly out to center, which brought up Aaron Glom (0-2, 2 BB).  On a two one fastball, Vahalik took off on a hit and run, Glaum put the ball in play towards short where Andrew Davis allowed the ball to roll under his glove.  Vahalik then attempted to go to third as Kellen Kulbacki fielded the ball in short left and fired to third, but the throw sailed over the head of Brandon Decker.

Vahalik was able to score on the errant throw and Glaum, who reached initially on Davis’ error, was able to make it all the way to third on the error by Kulbacki.  Glaum was able to score on an RBI groundout by the next batter Matt Wright (2-3, RBI).  But that was all the runs the Rippers would score.

Travis Risser and Jonathan Kountis (S, 6) combined to close out the Rippers, but not without some flair for the dramatic.  Risser came on in the seventh and after allowing the bases to get full of Rippers with one out, he induced a double play by getting Tony Delmonico to bounce to short where Andrew Davis made a terrific play to his left, stepped on second and threw onto first for the twin killing.

Kountis then came on with two on and nobody out in the eighth.  He immediately allowed a double to Stephen Cardullo (1-3).  Cardullo then stole second, but Kountis was able to get Zach Larsen to fly out to center to end the threat.

Kountis also had trouble in the ninth inning.  He allowed a leadoff single to Vahalik, got the first out of the inning on a flyball to left by Thomas, but walked just his fifth batter of the season when he issued a free pass to Glaum.  With runners on first and second he threw a wild pitch, which allowed the runners to advance to second and third.  With the tying run in scoring position he got Matt Wright to pop out to short on a beautiful over the shoulder catch by Davis and ended the game when pinch hitter David Christensen lined out to centerfield.

Alex Loftin grabbed the win for the Crushers as he went six strong innings, striking out four while only walking two.  He allowed two runs, but both runs were unearned and he dropped his ERA to 0.82.  Jamie Richmond (3-2) picked up the loss for the Rippers who fell to 13-18.  Richmond went six innings as well, allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out seven and only walking a single batter.

The Crushers take the field again tomorrow night for the second game of the three game series against the Rippers.  On the mound for the Crushers will be Josh Rickards (1-1, 5.18) and he will be going up against Eric Katzman (1-2, 4.05) who will be on the bump for the Rippers.  Game time tomorrow is 6:30 Eastern.
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POSTED 06/20/2012  23:11