SeaWolves Down Ducks, Win Home Finale
The SeaWolves won an 8-7 thriller over the Akron RubberDucks on Thursday night at Jerry Uht Park, ending the home portion of their 2016 schedule.
The SeaWolves jumped ahead in the first against Akron starter D.J. Brown. Gustavo Nunez doubled with one out and scored on a Mike Gerber double for a 1-0 lead.
The 'Wolves extended their lead to 3-0 in the second. Dominic Ficociello led off with a single and with one out, Christin Stewart hammered a two-run home run. The long ball for Stewart was his third as a SeaWolf.
Akron struck back in the third against Erie starter Tommy Collier. Greg Allen walked with one out but was erased at second when Eric Stamets hit into a fielder's choice. Jordan Smith doubled home Stamets making it 3-1.
Erie went back ahead by three runs in the last of the third. With two outs, Dominic Ficociello tripled and scored on an Austin Green infield hit making it 4-1.
The Ducks came roaring back in the fourth, knocking Collier out of the game. Mike Papi and Luigi Rodriguez led off with back-to-back singles. Joe Sever doubled home Papi making it a 4-2 game. With one out, Ivan Castillo connected on a three-run home run to right for a 5-4 Akron lead.
The SeaWolves tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Kody Eaves led off with a double. With one out, Gustavo Nunez reached on an error. With two outs, Corey Jones singled home Eaves, tying the game 5-5.
Akron quickly regained the lead in the fifth against Erie reliever David Martinez. Mike Papi led off and belted a solo home run to right, giving the Ducks a 6-5 lead.
The 'Wolves again quickly erased the Akron advantage in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Stewart walked to keep the inning alive. Eaves then blasted a two-run home run over the wall in right for a 7-6 advantage. The home run for Eaves was his 11th. Harold Castro followed with a base hit to right and Nunez reached for the second consecutive at bat on an error, pushing Castro into scoring position. Gerber singled home Castro for an 8-6 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Castollo led off with a single and moved to second on an Allen base hit. Martinez then hit Stamets, loading the bases. Smith hit into a 4-6-3 double play, scoring Castillo to make it 8-7. Martinez would get out of the jam inducing a fly out off the bat of Nellie Rodriguez, ending the threat.
Joe Mantiply came into the game and went five up and five down, taking his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 15 since August 1.
Paul Voelker worked the final 1.1 innings, issuing one walk while striking out two, earning his 13th save.
Martinez (2-3) earned the win allowing two runs on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings.