Squirrel Errors Lead to 'Wolves Win
Richmond got on the board in the bottom of the first inning against Erie starter Casey Crosby. With two outs, Nick Noonan walked and was singled home by Juan Perez, giving the Flying Squirrels a 1-0 lead.
The SeaWolves took the lead in the top of the fourth against Squirrels starter Ryan Verdugo. With one out, Bryan Pounds singled to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. Pounds moved to third on a Bryan Holaday groundout and Michael Bertram walked putting runners on the corners for Audy Ciriaco. Ciriaco grounded to second where Skyler Stromsmoe booted the ball. The error scored Pounds tying the game. Adam Calderone followed with a base hit scoring Bertram for a 2-1 Erie lead.
Erie continued to take advantage of Squirrels miscues in the seventh. Ciriaco led off with a bloop double to right and moved to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Justin Henry walked, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 20 consecutive games. With Jamie Johnson batting, Justin Henry took off for second. Henry stole second and on an errant throw from the catcher Johnny Monell into center, Ciriaco scored. On the same play Henry rounded second and headed towards third, a throwing error from Juan Perez on a ball that skipped into the seats allowed Henry to score making it a 4-1 game. Johnson stole second, moved to third on a Brandon Douglas groundout and scored on a wild pitch making it 5-1 'Wolves.
In the bottom of the seventh, Richmond got a pair of runs off of Erie reliever Jared Gayhart. With one out, Justin Christian doubled and with two outs, Noonan homered to right making it a 5-3 game. The Squirrels would get no closer.
In the top of the ninth, Erie got an insurance run when Rawley Bishop grounded out into a fielders choice scoring Johnson who led off with a base hit.
Reliever Rob Waite worked a scoreless ninth earning his first save of the season.
Crosby (2-2) worked six innings, allowing a run on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. The win for Crosby is his first since April 30.
Verdugo (2-1) took the loss for the Flying Squirrels allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits with two walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts in the losing effort.
The SeaWolves and Flying Squirrels play the second game of the four-game series on Tuesday night at the Diamond...7:05 First Pitch. Righty L.J. Gagnier (3-2, 4.05 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against LHP Eric Surkamp (2-2, 1.76 ERA)