Walks Sour Eisenbarger’s Return to Avon in Loss to Y’alls

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Walks Sour Eisenbarger’s Return to Avon in Loss to Y’alls

Avon, OH - August 18, 2026 - The Lake Erie Crushers (33-50) dropped the opening game of the homestand to the Florence Y’alls (49-35) in a 6-2 loss at ForeFront Field.

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Former Crushers All-Star LHP Jack Eisenbarger made his return to Avon on Tuesday night, and while his season between the Atlantic League and the Quebec Capitales hadn’t been the best, Jared Lemieux was eager to see what Eisenbarger would do back on the mound where he established himself as one of the best arms in the Frontier League over the last two years.

Eisenbarger had a polarizing first inning. He walked three batters and surrendered a run on a wild pitch, but he struck out the side. The Y’alls didn’t put a ball in play, but they took an early 1-0 lead.

In the 2nd, Eisenbarger had a similar fate, and while he gave up a ground-rule double that plated a run, he had a strikeout on 1B Hank Zeisler. However, on the ball in the dirt, new C Ian Francis delivered a throw slightly high to first base, which took 1B Chayton Krauss off the bag by maybe an inch. Zeisler was safe, and a run scored. Shortly after, the Y’alls blooped a two-RBI single to go up 5-0.

The Crushers got a run in the 3rd on a ground ball RBI single from RF Jeron Williams, who continues to produce for Lake Erie offensively.

Florence responded, though, with a run in the 4th to go up 6-1. Eisenbarger’s outing would conclude after that. A fairly up and down start in Jack’s return to ForeFront Field: 4 IP, 3 H, 6 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 9 K on 103 pitches. With his outing, Eisenbarger moved into third all-time on the career list for Crushers strikeouts.

In the 5th, CF Garret Pike blooped an RBI single to make it 6-2, and the Crushers had a couple runners on base. Unfortunately, LHP Evan Webster was redemptive of his rough outing last week against Lake Erie and got out of the inning. He finished off seven innings of two-run baseball.

The Crushers bullpen was fantastic in relief of Eisenbarger. LHP Wesley Culley pitched two scoreless innings, then new acquisition RHP Chase Hopewell tossed two scoreless frames of his own. In the 8th, RHP Drew Buhn struck out the side and gave up just a single hit. Over the final five innings, the Crushers bullpen had the following line: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The bats couldn’t quite get going in the late innings against the Florence closer, and Lake Erie dropped the series opener 6-2.

The Crushers will be back tomorrow, August 19th at 6:30pm for the final Bark in the Park of the season. All dogs get in free with a human ticket! Tickets are available at LECrushers.com.

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.