Crushers beat the Otters

Jul 03, 2010

By: The Morning Journal

By ZACHARY DZURICK
zsportsmj@gmail.com

AVON – Travis Risser threw seven strong innings and Andrew Davis had three RBIs to pace Lake Erie to a 7-2 win over the Evansville Otters on Saturday night.

Risser, after losing his first two decisions of the year, improved to 5-2. He struck out seven and walked just one. The only runs he surrendered were two solo home runs.

“I threw a lot of change ups,” Risser said. “They are free swinging team. I have found my groove and all three of my pitches are working.”

Risser missed all of 2009 with a back injury. In 2007, he was a relief pitcher for Crusher manager John Massarelli on the Washington Wild Things where he had six saves and a 1.09 ERA.

“This is the Risser I envisioned from the beginning of the year,” Massarelli said. “I knew it would take him time to get in a rhythm because he hasn’t (started) in a while.”

The Crushers used a three run fifth to take control of what was a tight game. Dom Duggan singled off Chad Edwards (0-5) to lead off the fifth and stole second and third for his 20th and 21st steals of the season. Andrew Davis for the second time in the game doubled home Duggan to make it 3-2 Crushers. With two outs, Travis Vetters singled to bring home Duggan. After a misguided pickoff throw, Vetters advanced all the way to third. After a Drew Saylor walk, Lee Huggins hit a ball to short but Saylor beat the throw allowing Vetters to score making the score 5-2.

Duggan’s speed is helping the offense get started.

“That is why he is our leadoff hitter,” Massarelli said. “He is hitting in front my best two hitters. When he is on, it is tough to throw off-speed pitches to Jodam (Rivera) and with Duggan on Base it puts Davis in better situations.”

The Crushers struck early thanks to a pair of ground rule doubles by Duggan and Davis in the first inning.

The Otters did not take long to tie it up. Designated hitter Derek Wiley hit Risser’s first pitch of the second inning over the left field wall.

The Crushers retook the lead with an unearned run in the third. Jodam Rivera reached second on a throwing error and moved up to third on a groundout and scored on Eddie Tisdale’s flyout to right field.

The Otters retied it on Vinnie Scarduzio hit a two-out homer in the fifth.

The Crusher defense was outstanding once again turning three double plays. After Risser struck out Brandon Cohen in the first, Julio Rivera threw out Patrick Rose attempting to steal. Jodam Rivera started a 6-4-3 double play to end the fourth and in the eighth, Drew Saylor leaped high to snag a hit away from Zack Stanton and then doubled off Billy Killian at first.

The Crushers tacked on runs in the seventh and eighth. With two outs and runners on first and second in the seventh, Lee Huggins hit a scorcher off the glove of third basemen Jake Rogers. Eddie Tisdale broke hard from second and attempted to score. The throw beat him but Tisdale avoided the tag. Davis picked up his third RBI of the night with two out single in the eighth.

Alberto Rolon pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to close out the game. He struck out four.

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