Comeback Cut Short: Crushers Drop Second Straight to Washington in 6-4 Setback

Avon, OH - August 2nd, 2025 — The Lake Erie Crushers fell into an early 6-0 hole through the first three innings of Saturday night’s game against the Washington Wild Things and while they chipped away at the deficit, they still came up two runs short in a 6-4 setback.

The loss for the Crushers (40-29) marks the first time they’ve lost a series since being swept by Schaumburg July 8-10, while the win for the Wild Things (40-31) brings them within a game of the Crushers for the top spot in the Central Division.

Washington fired the first shot, scoring a pair of runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Eddie Hacopian started the game with a single and advanced to second on Ben Watson’s sacrifice bunt. An error on the bunt attempt allowed Watson to reach as well, and they would both come around to score on Wagner Lagrange’s two run single to left.

The Wild Things sent eight to the plate in the top of the second and scored a trio of runs on four hits. Kyle Edwards and Hacopian reached on back-to-back one out hits before Watson walked to load the bases. Tommy Caufield then belted a two run single to right, before Lagrange struck again with a RBI double down the line in right field.

Washington added one more in the third. Jeff Liquori was hit by a pitch to start the inning. It appeared as though Lake Erie was going to pick him off, but he got caught in a rundown between first and second, forcing an errant throw into left field which put him in scoring position. Edwards made them pay a few moments later on a RBI single to left.

Lake Erie clawed away at the Washington lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Four consecutive singles from Sam Franco, Alfredo Gonzalez, Scout Knotts and Jaidan Quinn started the inning. Quinn’s single scored Franco and Gonzalez scored later in the inning on Kenen Irizarry’s RBI groundout.

The Crushers pulled within two in the seventh. Sebastian Alexander stroked a one out triple to the gap in left center and Jarrod Watkins brought him home on a RBI double. Dario Gomez followed with a run scoring single to right to narrow the deficit to two (6-4).

In the ninth, the Crushers had the tying runs aboard with Irizarry at third and Gomez at first, but Washington closer Andrew Herbert (10) was able to retire Franco on a groundout to end the game.

Darien Ragins (5-4) took the loss for the Crushers after allowing six runs, five earned on 11 hits over 5.2 innings of work. Washington’s Zach Kirby (5-4) picked up the win after surrendering four runs on seven hits while fanning four batters over 6.1 innings and Herbert tossed a scoreless tenth inning to snag the save.

The Crushers will wrap up their series with the Wild Things at Crushers Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Ethan Smith (5-4, 4.53) is scheduled to start for the Crushers. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM.

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About the Lake Erie Crushers
The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team that plays just 18 miles outside Cleveland at the 5,000-seat Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio. They compete in the Frontier League - a prestigious MLB Partner League. Since its founding in 2009, the Crushers have been dedicated to delivering exciting baseball and family-friendly entertainment to fans in Northeast Ohio.