The SeaWolves snapped a six-game losing streak on Monday night against the Trenton Thunder with an 8-3 win in the series opener at UPMC Park.Erie jumped all over Trenton starter Will Carter in the bottom of the first inning. Jacob Robson led off with a bunt single and stole second.
The SeaWolves snapped a six-game losing streak on Monday night against the Trenton Thunder with an 8-3 win in the series opener at UPMC Park.
Erie jumped all over Trenton starter Will Carter in the bottom of the first inning. Jacob Robson led off with a bunt single and stole second. Harold Castro and Jake Rogers followed with back-to-back walks, loading the bases for Dominic Ficociello. Ficociello laced an RBI single to right, scoring Robson for a 1-0 lead. Gabriel Quintana then drew a bases loaded walk, plating Castro for a 2-0 advantage. Kenny Wilson lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Rogers for a 3-0 lead. With Herlis Rodriguez batting, a wild pitch scored Ficociello from third. Rodriguez doubled and to put runners on second and third. With two outs and A.J. Simcox batting, a second wild pitch scored Quintana for a 5-0 lead. Simcox capped the six-run inning with an RBI single, scoring Rodriguez.
The SeaWolves added to their lead in the second against reliever Nestor Cortes. FIcociello walked with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. Quintana singled home Ficociello giving the 'Wolves a 7-0 lead.
Trenton struck back in the top of the fourth against Erie starter Tyler Alexander. Jhalan Jackson led off with a double and Trey Amburgey homered to right to make it 7-2.
The Thunder then closed the gap to four runs in the top of the sixth. Amburgey walked with two outs against reliever Jeff Thompson. Ben Ruta singled to move Amburgey to third and he would score on a Mandy Alvarez knock making it 7-3. Thomspon would get out of the jam by striking out Chace Numata to end the frame.
Erie scored the last run of the night in the bottom of the seventh against Stephen Tarpley. Wilson led off with a walk and Rodriguez singled. A double steal moved the runners into scoring position and an intentional walk to Simcox loaded the bases. Robson drew a free pass, plating Wilson for an 8-3 lead.
Alexander (1-0) earned the win for the SeaWolves allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts in five innings of work.
Carter (0-1) took the loss allowing six runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout in 0.2 innings.
Adam Ravenelle, Gerson Moreno and Mark Ecker combined to allow just one hit over the final three innings of the game out of the Erie pen.
The SeaWolves and Thunder meet in the second game of the series on Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. at UPMC Park. Righty Beau Burrows (1-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against RHP Brian Keller (0-1, 11.57 ERA).
