Lake Erie Crushers Win on Dog Day

While it was Dog Day at Sunday evening, the  proved to be the big dogs on the field as they beat the Evansville Otters, 8-0 sweeping the weekend series.

Crushers fans and their furry companions enjoyed an evening of pet-friendly baseball. Dog tickets were sold for $6.00 with all of the proceeds going to the Friendship Animal Protective League.

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All dogs in attendance were given VIP -- Very Important Pooches -- treatment, with all-they-could-drink tap water and kiddie pool access for cooling off.

Fans were treated to a guest appearance from local weather legend and animal enthusiast Dick Goddard. Goddard threw out the ceremonial first pitch, sang the national anthem, and signed autographs for fans.  

The Crushers gave the fans something to howl about as they put up 16 hits and 8 runs, shutting out the Otters to win their sixth straight game. Hot bats from outfielder Jereme Milons and infielder Jason Taylor proved to be too much for the Otters. Milons started things off with a triple in the first, scoring off of an RBI single from Patrick Norris. Milons then drove in a RBI of his own in the second with a single, scoring short stop Jodam Rivera.

Taylor added a run of his own -- a solo shot in the third inning -- to put the Crushers up, 6-0, giving him his fifth home run of the season. Taylor would then add on one more in the seventh with a stand-up RBI double, scoring Andrew Davis.

Starting pitcher Thomas Campbell (3-0) pitched six scoreless innings of two-hit baseball for the Crushers. Kelyn Schellenberg then closed out the game giving up two hits and no runs for the save, giving the Crushers their third shutout of the season.

The Crushers have finally climbed out of the dog house by getting above .500 for the first time this season, improving to 36-35.

Still a game and a half behind the Traverse City Beach Bums for the final playoff spot, the Crushers will look to gain ground on Tuesday night at 7:05 as they face the Florence Freedom for a three-game series. Josh Roberts (8-4, 3.87 earned run average) takes the mound for the Crushers.