Bernard Delivers Erie's Ninth Walk-Off Win

The SeaWolves walked off on the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday night at Jerry Uht Park as they opened the homestand with a thrilling 6-5 victory.

The SeaWolves jumped ahead in the bottom of the first against Portland starter Teddy Stankiewicz when Anthony Gose connected on a two-out, solo home run to right for a 1-0 lead.

Erie added to the lead in the second. With one out, Mike Gerber connected on his second triple. Dominic Ficociello singled home Gerber making it 2-0. With two outs, Kody Eaves extended his season-best hitting streak to six games with a two run home run off the scoreboard in right center for a 4-0 lead. The home run for Eaves was his seventh of the season and second in the last two games against the Sea Dogs.

Portland got on the board in the top of the fifth against Erie starter Artie Lewicki. Tim Roberson led off the inning with a double and he moved to third on a Jake Romanski base hit. Raniel Rosario hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Roberson making it a 4-1 game.

The SeaWolves quickly went back up by four runs in the last of the fifth. Eaves and Bernard started the inning with back-to-back walks. Gustavo Nunez laid down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners to second and third. Gose singled home Eaves making it 5-1.

The Sea Dogs closed the gap in the eighth against reliever Tommy Shirley. Aneury Tavarez led off and was hit by a pitch. Mauricio Dubon followed with a base hit putting two on for Ryan Court. Erie then summoned Paul Voelker who walked Ryan Court loading the bases. Nate Freiman lifted a sacrifice fly to right, plating Tavarez to make it 5-2. Cole Sturgeon followed with a groundout, scoring Dubon, cutting the Erie lead down to two.

Erie reliever Angel Nesbitt failed to hold a the two-run lead in the top of the ninth. Jake Romanski led off with a double and he scored on a Rosario base hit to make it 5-4. Tzu-Wei Lin then sacrificed Rosario into scoring position. Tavarez tripled home Rosario, tying the game. Nesbitt would pitch out of the jam, stranding the go-ahead run on third.

The SeaWolves then won the game in the last of the ninth inning against reliever Luis Ysla. With one out, Grayson Greiner drew a walk. With two outs, Wynton Bernard ripped a game-winning double down the left field line, scoring Greiner for the 6-5 win.

Lewicki took the tough no-decision for Erie. He allowed a run seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings of work. It was the third straight start that Lewicki did not issue a walk.

Nesbitt (1-1) earned the win allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout in an inning of work.

The SeaWolves and Sea Dogs meet in the middle game of the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Tommy Collier (7-6, 3.05 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against LHP Jalen Beeks (3-2, 4.69 ERA).

Wednesday features BUCK NIGHT presented by Budweiser and Rocket 101. Fans can enjoy Smith's Hot Dogs, Pepsi fountain drinks, popcorn and select domestic drafts for just $1 each.