Crushers Ground Bolts, Keep Playing Spoiler with 5-2 Win

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Crushers Ground Bolts, Keep Playing Spoiler with 5-2 Win

Crestwood, IL - September 1, 2026 - The Lake Erie Crushers (40-56) continue to play spoiler at the end of 2026, and their latest victim was the Windy City ThunderBolts (52-45). Lake Erie walked into Ozinga Field and bested the Bolts 5-2 to open the final road series of the season.

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Lake Erie got off to a hot start right off the jump in the top of the 1st. RF Jeron Williams clubbed his first Crushers home run, then DH Pavin Parks followed in the footsteps going back-to-back on a smoked, dead-center blast to push his Crushers all-time home run record to 21. The early home runs gave Lake Erie an early 2-0 lead. 

In the top of the 2nd, with two-outs C Nick Chavez chopped one above the head of LHP Isaac Milburn. Milburn fielded, but the throw was airmailed and Chavez advanced to second on the error. Lake Erie took advantage of the mishap. CF Nathan Archer lined one up the middle to plate Chavez, extending the lead to 3-0.

With one out in the bottom of the 4th, A solo shot to right-field by DH Carlos Pena put the Thunderbolts on the board against RHP Alex Garbrick, 3-1. It was the only hard-hit ball off Garbrick to that point, as he was mixing in his pitches with great effect early on.

In the bottom of the 6th with one out, 3B Jared Beebe doubled into the right-center gap. A wild pitch allowed Bebee to move to third. Windy City took advantage of the wild pitch and knocked in the runner with a liner to right field to make it a one-run game, 3-2. Garbrick’s night came to a close with 5 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB and 5 K. He exited in line for the win.

With one out in the top of the 7th, SS Jarrod Watkins grounded what looked like a routine inning-ending double-play, but the throw to second was not fielded cleanly and the Thunderbolts got zero outs on the play. During the action Jobert, with his head up the whole way, rounded third, caught the defenders sleeping, and scored. 

Moments later, LF Garret Pike saw the third baseman playing deep, so he dropped down a two-out safety squeeze bunt that was so perfectly executed. It allowed another run to score, and the Crushers reclaimed their three-run lead, 5-2.

The bullpen showed up to quell any potential threat from the solid Windy City lineup. LHP Wesley Culley and RHP Alexander Castro combined for 2 ⅓ scoreless innings, and they got the game to the 9th with a save situation for the closer.

Following the trend of the season, when you need the job closed, you bring in RHP Brandyn Sittinger. He did just that. Sittinger struck out a pair of batters in a scoreless inning to ground the Bolts and take the 5-2 series-opening win.

Alex Garbrick (1-6) pitched to a well deserved first win with the Lake Erie Crushers. Issac Milburn (5-4) was given his second loss at the hands of Lake Erie in 2026. Brandyn Sittinger (15) looked solid in his saving effort.

The Crushers look to take the series tomorrow, September 2nd, at 7:35pm against the ThunderBolts. Catch all the action on the final road trip of the season on HomeTeam Network! The team returns to Avon for BOGO Fan Finale Weekend on September 4th. Go to LakeErieCrushers.com/BOGO to get your tickets and find out all about the huge promotional weekend to finish off the 2026 season!

Crushers 2027 season tickets are now on sale! For information on 2027 season ticket memberships visit lecrushers.com or call (440) 934-3636, and be sure to follow our socials @LECrushers on Instagram/Facebook/X.

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About the Lake Erie Crushers

The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team based in Avon, Ohio, just 18 miles west of Cleveland at ForeFront Field. They compete in the Frontier League, a proud MLB Partner League, and have brought a family-friendly, fan-oriented baseball experience to Northeast Ohio since 2009. As Lorain County’s only professional sports franchise, the Lake Erie Crushers are the largest economic driver in Lorain County, hosting more than 200 events per year that include over 50 baseball games, concerts, charity functions, and other events that bring the community of Avon together. Len Komoroski is the Crushers Chairman and Managing Partner, and the team is led by President Vic Gregovits. Jared Lemieux, a Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is in his fourth season as field manager.