The SeaWolves could not come up with a big hit late as they dropped the series opener to the Hartford Yard Goats 5-3 on Friday night at UPMC Park. Erie took an early lead in the last of the second against Hartford starter Heath Holder. Josh Lester put Erie on
The SeaWolves could not come up with a big hit late as they dropped the series opener to the Hartford Yard Goats 5-3 on Friday night at UPMC Park.
Erie took an early lead in the last of the second against Hartford starter Heath Holder. Josh Lester put Erie on the board when he blasted a one-out, solo home run, his sixth of the season for a 1-0 lead.
Hartford went ahead in the top of the third against SeaWolves starter Matt Manning. Vance Vizcaino led off with a walk and Brian Serven singled to put runners on the corners. Manny Melendez grounded out to second, scoring Vizcaino, tying the game 1-1. Tyler Nevin followed with an RBI triple that scored Serven for a 2-1 Goats lead. Colton Welker lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Nevin for a 3-1 lead.
The SeaWolves cut into the lead in the third. Luke Burch walked with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Isaac Paredes singled home Burch with two outs making it 3-2.
Hartford went back ahead by two in the fourth. Mylz Jones reached on a one-out error, stole a pair of bases and scored on a Serven base hit.
The Yard Goats took a 5-2 lead in the sixth against Erie reliever Anthony Castro. Jones walked with two outs and stole second. He scored on a Vizcaino base hit.
Erie closed the gap again in the eighth inning when Frank Schwindel led off and crushed a solo home run to left to make it 5-3.
The 'Wolves attempted to rally in the ninth against reliever Ben Bowden. Derek Hill and Paredes each walked with one out to put the tying run on base. Bowden battled back to strike out Kade Scivicque and end the game on a Schwindel lineout to left. Bowden earned his 20th save in as many chances.
Alexander Guillen (2-1) earned the win for the Goats in relief tossing 2.2 scoreless with two walks and three strikeouts.
Manning (5-4) took the loss for the SeaWolves allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
The SeaWolves and Yard Goats meet in the middle game of the series on Saturday night at UPMC Park at 7:05 p.m. RHP Spenser Watkins (1-0, 3.48 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against RHP Rico Garcia (8-1, 1.88 ERA).
Saturday is a fireworks night at UPMC Park set to famous sitcom themes thanks to Ariens Company.
