Hope Collects Four Hits in 11-Inning Loss to Fisher Cats

ERIE, PA - The Erie SeaWolves (31-15, 67-47) received a four-hit performance from Zyhir Hope in their return home against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (19-27, 53-60), but ultimately fell short in 11 innings as New Hampshire opened the series with a 6-5 win on Tuesday night at UPMC Park.

The Fisher Cats sprung out to the first lead of the game in the second inning against SeaWolves starter Joe Miller. Two consecutive singles from Alexis Hernandez and Edward Duran put two runners aboard. A double steal moved both into scoring position. After Miller came within a strike of escaping the jam, SeaWolves catcher Thayron Liranzo allowed a passed ball to the backstop that gave New Hampshire a 1-0 lead.

Erie broke the goose egg in the bottom of the third when Zyhir Hope clobbered a two-run homer over the right field wall for his 25th home run of the season in Double-A and second with the SeaWolves.

New Hampshire responded right away in the fourth. Dub Gleed roped a leadoff triple before the Fisher Cats' offense smacked four straight. A single from Edward Duran tied the game and Cutter Coffey quickly laced another base hit to score two and give New Hampshire a 4-2 lead.

Both offenses went quiet until the eighth inning. For the SeaWolves, Yoniel Curet, Marco Jimenez and Zane Barnhart went to work to deliver 3.1 scoreless innings in relief. Mason Olsen covered three scoreless innings from the pen for the Fisher Cats with only one hit allowed.

After a New Hampshire pitching change, Hope and Liranzo led off the eighth inning with base hits. A wild pitch allowed Hope to score from third and cut the lead to one. Erie put the tying run in scoring position with no one out but couldn't bring in anymore in the frame.

It was once again Zyhir Hope that got involved in the ninth inning. The 21-year-old smacked an RBI-single to score Seth Stephenson with two outs after he was hit with a pitch to begin the inning. The game headed to extra innings tied at four.

Tanner Kohlhepp went back to the mound and allowed only one run to cross in the top of the tenth. Erie quickly responded in the home half of the inning with a line drive RBI-single from Andrew Jenkins to tie the game at five.

Yosber Sanchez entered the game in the eleventh to pitch for Erie. Victor Arias tripled with one out to score the automatic runner and give New Hampshire a 6-5 lead. Erie could not push across a run in the bottom of the inning and fell in the thrilling series opener.

The SeaWolves are back in action tomorrow at 6:05 PM. Carlos Peña takes the mound opposite Austin Cates for the Fisher Cats.

Single-game tickets, suites, picnics, The Club by Synchrony events, and Bud Light Party Deck groups are now available by visiting SeaWolves.com, calling 814-456-1300, or visiting the UPMC Park Box Office in person.