Richmond drops road series to wild-card leaders

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.