Thad Weber Fires No-Hitter In Erie Win
The night began with Weber setting down the Aeros in order in the top of the first inning on only six pitches and from there it was smooth sailing. He retired the first eight hitters before Cristo Arnal reached on an error in the top of the third. Weber battled back getting a comebacker off the bat of Jose Constanza for the final out of the inning.
The only other baserunner to reach on Weber was Matt McBride who led off the eighth inning and was hit by a pitch. Following the hit batter, Weber would retire the final six hitters of the game, completing the rare feat.
In the top of the ninth, he got a soft liner off the bat of Arnal to the shortstop Danny Worth. Weber then struck out both Constanza and Josh Rodriguez to end the game.
The amazing accomplishment was witnessed by nearly 4,000 fans at "The Uht" and by two very special guests...Weber's parents Les and Nancy. He threw just 88 pitches in the game.
The Erie righty had plenty of run support as Erie notched their highest run total since July 24 against Binghamton. Weber was on the winning end of that game as well.
The 'Wolves got on the board in the bottom of the second inning against Akron starter Josh Tomlin. Tomlin, who is 11-3 against the rest of the league, was just 1-5 against the 'Wolves entering Saturday's game. Casper Wells led off and was hit by a pitch. Michael Bertram followed with a two-run home run to left, his fourth of the season and second in as many games, putting the 'Wolves ahead 2-0. With one out, Chris White, who was called up from Lakeland on Friday, connected on his first Double-A hit, a solo home run to right for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Deik Scram led off with the first of four hits in the game, a solo home run to right for his 18th of the season and a 4-0 lead. Scram would fall a triple shy of the cycle.
The big inning came in the bottom of the fourth when the 'Wolves put up a seven-spot. Bertram led off with a walk and White reached on a fielder's choice and an error by the second baseman Arnal. Jeff Kunkel followed with a three-run home run to right for a 7-0 lead. The home run for Kunkel was his third of the season and he would finish the night with a season-high three hits and four RBI. Danny Worth followed the home run with a base hit to center, Scram then doubled and Cale Iorg walked to load the bases. Brennan Boesch drove in a run on a fielders choice and a second Akron error for an 8-0 lead. Erie would go on to score three more runs on a Bertram two-run single and a Santo De Leon RBI single for an 11-0 lead.
In the fifth, Kukel led off with a double and scored on a one-out ground out by Scram for a 12-0 lead.
In the sixth, Kunkel picked up his second double bringing home White who walked for a 13-0 lead.
A three-run seventh would give Erie the 16-0 advantage. Scram walked and Shawn Roof doubled putting a pair on for Boesch who singled home both picking up his second and third RBI in the game. Boesch is now tied for second in the league with 86 RBI. Boesch would later score on a sacrifice fly by White.
The no-hitter was Erie's first since Elvin Hernandez accomplished the feat on August 24, 1995 at Oneonta. It was the first no-hitter thrown by a SeaWolf in the 15-year history of Jerry Uht Park.
The icing on the cake was Erie gaining a game on the wild card leading Reading Phillies who lost to New Britain. The 'Wolves are now just 1.5 games out of the wild card.