First Place SeaWolves Drop Series Opener in Harrisburg

The first place Erie SeaWolves dropped the opening game of a four-game series to the Harrisburg Senators by a 3-2 final on Thursday night at FNB Field. The loss, coupled with a Bowie win, puts the SeaWolves lead in the Western Division at one game heading into the final 11 days of the regular season.
Harrisburg scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the first inning against Erie spot starter Jose Fernandez. Andrew Stevenson led off with a single and moved to third on a Luis Garcia double. Michael Taylor homered to left to give the Senators at 3-0 advantage after one.
Erie responded in the top of the second as Kody Clemens connected on his first Double-A home run off of Senators starter Mario Sanchez to make it 3-1.
The SeaWolves climbed to within a run in the fifth. Kody Eaves tripled with one out and scored on a Cam Gibson base hit.
The SeaWolves threatened in the eighth and ninth innings against Senators reliever Andrew Istler. In the eighth, Gibson led off with a walk and Dylan Rosa singled. Istler retired the final three hitters of the frame.
In the ninth, Jose Azocar led off with a base hit to extend his hitting streak to a season-high eight straight games. Clemens doubled to the wall in right with one out, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Istler battled back by striking out Kody Eaves and inducing a game-ending groundout from Gibson.
Sanchez (9-4) earned the win for the Senators allowing two runs on five this with no walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Fernandez (1-2) took the loss allowing three runs on five this with no walks and two strikeouts in four innings.
The SeaWolves will look to snap a two-game slide on Friday night against the Senators at 7 p.m. Lefty Tarik Skubal (2-1, 1.85 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against RHP Kevin McGowan (1-2, 5.14 ERA).