BEACH BUMS COMPLETE SWEEP OF CRUSHERS

7/21/2010 - AVON, OH –- The Traverse City Beach Bums rode a five-run fourth inning capped by a Jason Codiroli grand slam to a 7-5 win and a series sweep over the Lake Erie Crushers. Jason Codiroli file photo by John L. Russell.

The win tied the Beach Bums with the Crushers in the standings and gave Traverse City a 7-5 mark season series, giving the Beach Bums the tiebreaker in the playoff race.

Traverse City got the first runs of the game in the second inning as after Chase Burch was hit by a pitch, J. T. Hall clubbed two-run homer off the scoreboard in right to put TC up 2-0. Drew Saylor responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to slice the lead to 2-1.

The game would stay that way until the fourth when the Beach Bums would break it open. With the bases loaded, Matt Brown singled to center to bring home C. J. Ziegler who had walked to lead off the inning for a 3-1 TC lead. Jason Codiroli came to the plate and gave Traverse City some distance as he hit the first Beach Bums grand slam of the season, putting Traverse City up 7-1.

Lake Erie would pull back a run closer in the fifth as Julio Rivera led off the inning with his third homer of the year to make it 7-2. The Crushers scored an unearned run in the eighth and two in ninth to create the final margin.

Along with the homeruns, the day belonged to Ryan Platt (7-1), who notched his second double-digit strikeout game of the season, whiffing 10 Crushers. Platt allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings. Scott Mueller came in and recorded the final out for his ninth save. Matt Smith (7-4) gave up seven runs in 5.1 innings on five hits and four walks for Lake Erie. Offensively, Matt Brown tallied two of the five Beach Bums hits.

The Beach Bums return home for a Thirsty Throwback Thursday against the Washington Wild Things on Thursday night where fans will receive $1 off 22 oz PEPSI fountain products and $1 off beer. Jonny Bravo (1-0, 2.66) will get the Thursday evening start for the Beach Bums against Zach Groh (2-3, 4.21) for Washington. For more information or tickets, call 231-943-0100 or visit tcbeachbums.com.