Crushers Drop 7-2 Decision to Tri-City in Series Opener

Avon, OH - June 6, 2025 - The Lake Erie Crushers fell into an early hole that they could not dig out of at Crushers Stadium on Friday night, as they dropped the series opener to the Tri-City ValleyCats, 7-2.

The loss for the Crushers (12-11) was their fifth in their last six games, while the win for the Valley Cats (15-7) gives them eight in their last nine contests.

Tri-City didn’t waste any time getting started, as Dylan Broderick smashed the second pitch of the game over the wall in right field for his second homer of the season to give the ValleyCats a 1-0 lead.

They would tack on single runs in the second, fourth and fifth to take a 4-0 advantage. Jake Reinisch started the second inning with a walk and came around to score on John McHenry’s RBI single to make it 2-0 Tri-City. Kyle Novak started the fourth inning with a single and eventually scored on Ian Walters’s RBI groundout, and Oscar Campos delivered a two out RBI single to plate Amani Larry in the fifth.

Lake Erie was able to fight back and cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. CF Burle Dixon started the inning with a double down the line in right, which was Lake Erie’s only extra base hit on the night. C Alfredo Gonzalez brought him home on a RBI single to center. An error in center field on the play allowed Gonzalez to reach third and he eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

The Valley Cats removed any doubt by scoring three times in the top of the ninth. Josh Leslie brought the first run in on a RBI single to right and Miguel Useche singled to center to plate the last two runs of the game.

Easton Klein (2-2) scored the win for Tri-City after allowing just a pair of runs on six hits through seven innings of work. Brayhans Barreto (1) picked up the save after tossing two perfect innings in relief. RHP Ethan Smith (1-2) took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits over five innings of action.

Lake Erie was paced offensively by Gonzalez, who had two of their four hits on the night in a 2-for-4 performance. Dixon’s double in the seventh inning extended his hitting streak to eight games, while RF Dario Gomez went 1-for-3 with a single to extend his on base streak to 14 games.

The Crushers and ValleyCats will square off again on Saturday night at Crushers Stadium for the middle game of the weekend series. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

Tomorrow is 80’s Night with the debut of the Crushers’ brand-new black jerseys! Then, after the game the Avon sky will light up with the first-ever Drone Show in the region. It's a 25-minute display that you have to see to believe. Don’t stay home while we make history at Crushers Stadium! Tickets are selling fast, so get yours today at lakeeriecrushers.com/tickets.

Can’t join us at the ballpark? You can stream Crushers games home and away in 2025 on the brand new Frontier League streaming partner, HomeTeam Network or watch live on local television on Rock Entertainment Sports Network (RESN) in the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati markets!

____________________________________________________________________________

Less than 500 tickets remain for 80’s Night on June 7th! Come out to Crushers Stadium at 7:05pm as the Crushers debut their brand-new black jerseys. Then, stick around after the game for the first-ever Drone Show in the region - a 25-minute choreography paired with a fireworks display. It’s the biggest promotional night of the summer, so get your tickets today at lakeeriecrushers.com/tickets.

Flexible 2025 Crushers ticket memberships are now on sale, giving fans the best experience on their terms and schedule. Plans start at $40 and include a priority selection of games, no ticket service fees, and the option of subscription-based payment plans. Fans can view more information at www.LakeErieCrushers.com.

Whether it’s a birthday celebration, youth sports night, corporate event, or family reunion, group outings with the Crushers offer great fan experiences and benefits, including reserved seating and special perks. Visit www.LakeErieCrushers.com/groups or call (440) 934-3636 for more information.

XXX

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.