By Greg Halbleib
AVON, Oh. – The Normal CornBelters scored both runs in the fourth inning and held on for a 2-1 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers on Wednesday night at All Pro Freight Stadium.
The CornBelters broke the ice in the fourth inning when Pat McKenna drew a lead-off walk, went to third on a double over the right center wall by Richard Lucas and scored on a wild pitch. Lucas came home on a Jason Merjano fielder’s choice to give the Belters a 2-0 advantage.
The Crushers dented the scoreboard in the seventh by leading off with back-to-back doubles by Jose Barraza and Anderson Hidalgo. A single put runners at the corners, but a runner was thrown out while stealing and reliever Cole Brocker registered two strikeouts to end the threat with the Belters leading 2-1.
The Crushers drew a two-out walk in the ninth inning, but Ozney Guillen caught a tailing fly ball from Juan Sanchez just outside of the right field line while crashing over a low rail and into the seats to end the game.
Jake Negrete (2-0) earned the win, surrendering just two hits and one walk while not allowing a base runner in his first four innings. Zach Morton (4-3) worked seven innings and took the loss. Race Parmenter pitched the ninth inning for his 18th save.
The CornBelters (48-32) tied the team record for wins in a season and maintain a two-game lead over the River City Rascals in the Frontier League West Division. The Crushers fall to 34-45, sixth in the East.
The brief road trip concludes Thursday with a 6:05 p.m. Central first pitch as righthander Jake Negrete (1-0, 3.85 ERA) starts for Normal and lefty Brad Zambron (3-5, 4.06) takes the ball for Lake Erie. The broadcast on WJBC-AM 1230 and WJBC.com begins at 6 p.m.
