For the second consecutive evening, the Erie SeaWolves (52-48) defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels (47-56), 5-1. The win on Tuesday night at Jerry Uht Park also netted the SeaWolves the three-game series.
The SeaWolves got off to a quick start against Richmond lefty Edwin Escobar. They strung together four hits to score three times in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead. Daniel Fields sparked the uprising with a single back through the middle. Ramon Cabrera followed with a single to right field and Tyler Collins gave the SeaWolves the lead with a double to left-center. An out later, Wade Gaynor made it a big inning with a two-run single to right-center field.
Erie tacked on a run in the fourth inning. Gaynor singled with one out and Escobar walked James Robbins behind him. Gaynor moved to third on a fly out and scored when Escobar threw errantly on a swinging-bunt from Marcus Lemon. The run, which extended the Erie lead to 4-0, was unearned due to the error on Escobar.
Meanwhile, SeaWolves’ right-hander Warwick Saupold (5-3) had little trouble over five scoreless innings. He earned the win, conceding five hits, walking none and striking out six.
Escobar (1-1) endured the loss over six innings. He permitted four runs – three earned – on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Richmond finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning against right-hander Will Clinard. Jarrett Parker led off the inning with a single. An out later, Kelby Tomlinson delivered his second hit of the night. His single put runners on the corners with one out. Ryan Lollis followed and lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to trim the Erie advantage to three runs, 4-1.
The SeaWolves got the run right back in the bottom of the inning against right-hander Edwin Quirarte. Collins knocked in Fields with an RBI single. Collins fifth hit of the series made it 9 of 10 runs that has been scored with two outs in the series by the SeaWolves.
Erie righty Tyler Clark closed the ballgame, recording the final six outs. Clark did not earn a save, having entered with a four-run lead.
The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at Jerry Uht Park. Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (8-4, 3.45) will make the start against Erie RHP Patrick Cooper (2-8, 5.73). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 11:35 a.m. on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio.