AVON — The Cruisers and Crushers weathered two rain delays during the middle game of their three-game set, but the Crushers failed to weather the Cruisers’ seventh-inning storm.

The resumption of Sunday’s rain-shortened game was a quick one on Monday, as nearly 25 hours after the original start time, the Cruisers defeated the Crushers 5-2.

The first rain delay Sunday afternoon pushed the start time back from 5:05 p.m. to 6:07 p.m, but wasn’t the only stoppage of the contest. During the middle of third inning, the screeching fire alarm sounded throughout All Pro Freight Stadium providing another short postponement.

“I managed that game knowing that weather was coming and it was probably going to postpone us,” Manager John Massarelli said. “We didn’t want to lose (Alberto) Rolon, we tried to sneak (Michael) Raymond in to give us an inning, but it backfired on us.”

Deadlocked at two entering the seventh inning, the Cruisers (23-12) brought nine batters to the plate and scored three runs to extend their East Division lead to four games ahead of the Crushers (19-16)

Cruisers hitters connected on four hits, including three doubles, off of Crushers reliever Michael Raymond in the seventh. Raymond recorded only one out in the seven batters he faced and was released after Sunday’s outing.

“He was struggling with the command of his fastball,” Massarelli said. “He has a great arm and a lot of potentinal, this is like the big leagues. We’re tying to win every night.”

Raymond relieved starter Esmelvin Jimenez after he pitched six innings of two-run, eight-hit baseball, continuing his 10-appearance streak of surrendering three runs or less.

Oakland County shortstop Luis Fernandez punched the ball through the right side of the infield for the first hit of the seventh. After a double by catcher Ben Barrone, center fielder Zachary Pace drove in Fernandez and Barrone with a double to left-center field to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

No. 3 hitter, Jeremy Jones, doubled in Pace to finalize the score line.

Raymond plunked second baseman Martin Parra, surrendered the third double of the inning to Jones and walked first baseman Joash Brodin to load the bases before exiting as the pitcher of record – his third loss of the season.

Reliever Alberto Rolon was substituted in for Raymond to face third baseman Kyle Maunus, but home plate umpire Jacob Asher suspended the game shortly thereafter Sunday night.

Rolon faced Maunus to resume play on Monday, struck him out and coaxed designated hitter Lee Rubin to ground out to end the lengthy seventh inning.

Following Saturday’s 3-1, one-hit loss to the Cruisers, the Lake Erie offense continued its meager run production throughout the prolonged, two-day matchup.

Third baseman Andrew Davis extended a single into a double to lead off the eighth, but was left marooned as first baseman Eddie Tisdale, second baseman Drew Saylor and designated hitter Lee Huggins all struck out, thwarting the threat of a rally.

Lake Erie scattered seven hits against Oakland County pitching, but failed to drive in runs as it left seven on base.

“They just have to learn how to control the situation,” Massarelli said. “Being a professional hitter at a higher level, you learn how to not be out of control. You’re getting pitches to hit because of your strike discipline. Hitting you can’t try harder at and do good.”

The Crushers snatched a quick, short-lived lead in the first courtesy of third baseman Andrew Davis’ sacrifice to plate speedy center fielder Dom Duggan, who doubled to leadoff the inning.

Cruisers right fielder Robbie Tolan tripled in designated hitter Lee Rubin from first to equalize in the second inning. The early see-saw affair continued in the fourth inning, when Crushers designated hitter Lee Huggins hit a laser home run to center field, his third of the season, which handed the Crushers a 2-1 lead. That was the last lead the Crushers maintained.

Following Huggins’ home run, Crushers’ hitters only managed three more hits the final five innings, and the side was retired in order three times.

Notes

Lake Erie signed reliever Travis LaMar to replace Raymond’s spot in the bullpen. LaMar was signed after playing college baseball at Wright State University.

“He’s going to be our 10th, 11th guy in the pen,” Massarelli said. “He’ll give us innings when we need him. The slider is probably his best pitch, he’s not an overpowering guy. Looking at his body type and the scounting report, he looks similar to (Jeff) Cinadr.”