Massive Sixth Inning Lifts Lake Erie in 6-2 Win over Washington

Washington, PA - June 24, 2025 - The Lake Erie Crushers (19-18) had a big 6th inning on Tuesday night to blitz the Washington Wild Things (23-17) in a 6-2 home-and-home series opening win.

Both RHP Ethan Smith and RHP Jordan DiValerio were excellent early on. Both lineups struggled mightily against the starters through the opening frames, but the Wild Things got on the board first in the 3rd. 1B Tyreque Reed lofted a soft-serve RBI single into center field to drive in the opening run of the ballgame, and 3B Tommy Caufield added on with a solo home run in the 5th to give Washington a 2-0 lead.

Otherwise, Ethan Smith was excellent in his start. He gave up just the two runs on two hits with five strikeouts with plenty of weak contact to boot. Smith held out long enough for the Crushers to break through in the 6th.

RF Jordan Harrison-Dudley led off the inning with a bomb over the tall center field wall for his second of the season, and 3B Zach Campbell followed it up by putting himself in scoring position with a double immediately after.

Then, with two in scoring position, SS Jarrod Watkins laced a 2-RBI single to give Lake Erie a 3-2 lead, but they were far from done. C Alfredo Gonzalez reached base with a single ahead of DH Vincent Byrd Jr., who blasted his first homer of 2025, a three-run shot to cap off a six-run 6th inning for Lake Erie.

While the Wild Things drew three walks in the bottom of the 6th against RHP Dayan Reinoso, Alfredo Gonzalez nabbed DH Andrew Czech stealing in what would turn into a scoreless inning finished off by RHP Brandon Scheurer. He went 1 ⅓ innings and struck out three. RHP Brandyn Sittinger struck out a batter in a 1-2-3 8th inning, and RHP Michael Brewer closed the door with a pair of strikeouts in the 9th for a 6-2 Lake Erie win. 

Ethan Smith (3-3) was awarded the win thanks to his very solid outing. Jordan DiValerio (4-2), despite going seven innings, was sunk by the 6th in a losing effort.

The final game of the road trip is tomorrow, June 25th, at 1:05pm ET in Washington. Then the Crushers will return home Thursday, June 26th against the Wild Things for another Thirsty Thursday! Get tickets online at lakeeriecrushers.com.

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!

____________________________________________________________________________

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.