Traverse City Record-Eagle

Beach Bums

September 4, 2011

Bums need a win in season finale

Bums, Crushers play for playoff berth tonight

From Staff Reports ----

TRAVERSE CITY — Win and you’re in.

That’s the scenario facing Traverse City and Lake Erie tonight in the regular season finale at Wuerfel Park.

The Crushers forced the showdown on Saturday with a 4-3 win over the Beach Bums.

Both teams entered the final series of the regular season needing two of the three wins to clinch the wild card in the East Division.

Traverse City did its part with a 9-3 victory on Friday, but Lake Erie didn’t give it away on Saturday.

The Crushers posted runs in the third and fourth innings before tacking on two more in the sixth off a Chris Luick two-run single for a 4-0 lead.

Traverse City — which was held to two hits on the night — came back in the bottom of the frame with Chase Burch’s three-run homer. Zack Pace and Stephen Schults were on base after a single and an error.

From there, Lake Erie’s Chris Allen and Ruben Flores silenced the rally with three perfect innings of relief. Eric Gonzalez-Diaz got the win after six innings with two hits, a walk and four strikeouts.

Bryan Banes took the loss for the Beach Bums in 5.2 innings of work.

Today’s decisive game will start at 5:05 p.m..

David Nathanson takes the mound for the Beach Bums, who are looking for their second straight postseason appearance. He’ll bring a 3-2 record and a 4.61 ERA since re-joining Traverse City midway through the summer.

Lake Erie will throw Josh Roberts, who has a 10-6 record, but has lost twice this year to Traverse City.

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