The Erie SeaWolves (21-38) defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels (31-28), 7-4, on Saturday night at The Diamond. Erie leveled the three-game series, which will be decided on Sunday. The Squirrels were wearing shark-themed uniform tops, which were auctioned off during the game.
The Squirrels jumped to the lead in the bottom of the first inning with an unearned run against righty Austin Kubitza. Their uprising was aided by Erie shortstop Curt Powell who threw errantly to first base on Kelby Tomlinson’s inning-opening groundball. The throw wound up in the Richmond dugout and Tomlinson wound up at second base. Rando Moreno followed with a single back through the middle to put runners at the corners. Mac Williamson then pulled an RBI single through the left-side of the infield. Tomlinson scored for a 1-0 lead.
The SeaWolves grabbed their first lead with a pair of runs against right-hander Kyle Crick in the second inning. Jason Krizan got things started with a one-out double stroked to left field. An out later, James Robbins tied the game, 1-1, with a single to right field. Crick then walked Connor Harrell before Austin Green gave Erie the lead, 2-1, with an RBI single.
Crick created his own trouble with a pair of walks issued to Powell and Krizan in the third. Tony Thomas cashed in the first of those walks with an RBI single to left-center field that stretched the Erie lead to 3-1.
Richmond scratched across a second run in the third. Tomlinson opened the inning with an infield-single. Moreno bunted him to second base before Williamson walked. Mitch Delfino then singled on the infield to load the bases. Ricky Oropesa followed and brought Tomlinson across with a sacrifice-fly to left field.
Crick (1-2) lasted just three innings, charged with three earned runs on four hits. He walked four, struck out two and took his second loss of the year.
Right-hander Edwin Quirarte relieved Crick and worked two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Harrell pounced on the first pitch and drove it to center field for a leadoff double. A batter later, Harold Castro made it 4-2 for Erie with an RBI single to left field. Powell followed with a single before Wynton Bernard made it three consecutive singles, bringing in Castro. Dean Green then collected a fourth consecutive single to plate Powell for a 6-2 lead. Quirarte departed in favor of right-hander Stephen Johnson. Krizan greeted him with a sacrifice-fly to right field to cap the scoring in the inning with Erie in front, 7-2.
The Squirrels grabbed another unearned off of Kubitza in the sixth inning. Kubitza was guilty of the error, misplaying a swinging-bunt from Oropesa. Angel Villalona followed the miscue with an RBI double launched to left-center field.
Kubitza (4-5) called it a night after six innings. He was charged with three runs, just one of which was earned. He conceded six hits, walked two and struck out three. He earned his fourth win of the year.
Right-hander Slade Smith entered behind Kubitza. He conceded the final run of the night to Richmond, but worked two efficient innings. Right-hander Jeff Ferrell earned his eighth save by working a scoreless ninth inning.
The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. Richmond LHP Matt Lujan (4-4, 4.28) will make the start against Erie LHP Josh Turley (5-4, 2.97). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
