Boomers lose in extra innings
The Schaumburg Boomers opened their first six-game homestand of the year with a playoff like atmosphere, rallying from down three-run deficit to force extras before suffering a 4-3 loss to the Lake Erie Crushers in 10 innings Tuesday at Wintrust Field.
Jacob Smith made a spot start for the Boomers and threw three scoreless innings before Lake Erie tallied a two-out run in the fourth on a double from Jack Harris to score Ronald Washington. Smith threw four innings in his first pro start and allowed just the one run on two hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts. The Crushers added single runs in the next two frames against Peter Tveite, who was making his pro debut. Walner Espinal scored on a wild pitch in the fifth while Logan Thomason homered in the sixth. Tveite tossed three innings in his debut.
The Boomers put together another late inning rally, striking for three runs in the eighth to tie the game. Evan Orzech was hit by a pitch to start the frame and Christian Fedko tallied a single with one away. Chase Dawson doubled to left to score Orzech. With two outs and Will Prater at the plate, the second run scored on a balk. Prater struck out swinging but was able to reach on a wild pitch that enabled Dawson to score the tying run.
Schaumburg left runners at first and third in the eighth and saw the potential winning run thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Lake Erie was able to score in the 10th by plating the international runner, John Tucillo, on a sacrifice fly from Washington. The Boomers had the tying run at third with one away in the bottom of the frame but could not break through.
Jake Joyce suffered the loss in relief. Fedko tallied two of the seven hits for the Boomers. The Boomers have dropped three straight contests for the first time this season.
The Boomers (18-9) continue the homestand Wednesday night with the middle game against the Crushers. Brendan Knoll (2-1, 5.04) is slated to start for the Boomers opposite Anthony Escobar (2-0, 3.25).