Boomers beat Lake Erie, take 3-game lead in playoff race

The Schaumburg Boomers used back-to-back homers in the bottom of the seventh on Tuesday to inch closer to a return trip to the playoffs by winning the opener of a key series with Lake Erie 6-5 at Wintrust Field.

Braxton Davidson opened the scoring with his 17th homer of the year in the bottom of the first. The Boomers are now 14-5 when scoring first at home. Lake Erie tied the game in the fourth on a homer from Kenen Irizarry, his third in the last two games, and took the lead with three runs in the fifth. Schaumburg was able to tie the game in the sixth. Blake Berry connected on a two-run double to right-center and William Salas poked home the tying run with a two-out single.

Lake Erie took the lead in odd fashion in the top of the seventh after an out at second erased a force everywhere else and enabled the go-ahead run to cross. With one out in the bottom of the inning Davidson connected on his second of the game, an opposite field blast to tie the score. Mike Hart followed with his 19th of the year to account for the final. Lake Erie put the first two on in the ninth but Darrell Thompson struck out the next three to fan the side for the 12th time this year and collect his 15th save.

Kristian Scott earned the win in relief, his fifth of the year. Luis Perez started and worked six. Jake Joyce tossed the eighth. Davidson scored three runs as the Boomers came from behind to win a game for the 26th time this season.

The Boomers (51-40) jumped over Evansville in the West Division standings and now hold a three-game lead in the playoff race.