Traverse City Record-Eagle

Beach Bums

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  • J.T. Hall had a big day for Traverse City, hitting a walk-off home run in the 11th and a pair of doubles. Record-Eagle/Keith King

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August 18, 2011

Hall belts game-winning homer

He sets franchise home run record

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — J.T. Hall was just about all the offense Traverse City needed Wednesday night.

Hall had two run-scoring doubles and belted a walk-off home run in the 11th inning as the Beach Bums came away with a 5-4 victory over Lake Erie.

The homer set a new franchise single-season home run record and put Hall in a tie for the Frontier League lead with River City's Steven Holdren with 20 each. Hall is also sixth in the league with 65 RBIs. Chase Burch held the previous TC mark with 19 homers last year.

The victory pulls Traverse City within a half game of Lake Erie for the East Division's last playoff spot heading into tonight's series finale. The Crushers and Beach Bums then will meet up one more time this campaign in a season-ending three-game set Sept. 2-4.

Hall was responsible for Traverse City's first three runs.

After Lake Erie scored a pair in the top of the first, Hall answered with a two-run double. He added an RBI double in the third.

Jeff Flagg blasted his 11th home run in 44 games with TC in the sixth inning before the Crushers struck for a pair in the seventh to even it back up at four each.

Nathanson went seven innings, giving up nine hits, no walks and striking out seven. He's gone at least seven innings in four of his last five appearances.

Scott Mueller relieved and tossed three scoreless frames, giving up three hits and striking out four.

Scott Dunn (6-3) walked the lead-off batter in the 11th, but got out of the inning thanks to a double play.

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