Erie Offense Supports Flores in His Strong Return

Wilmer Flores pitched well in his return from the Injured List in Erie’s 10-2 win over Richmond.

Flores returned to pitch for the first time since July 20. He allowed a pair of runs in the second inning on Hayden Cantrelle’s two-out, two-run single. Richmond led 2-0 into the third.

Flores allowed no runs from that point on. He tossed five strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Erie got him a lead in the third inning against Ryan Murphy. The first five batters of the frame reached base against Murphy on a hit by pitch, a single, and three consecutive walks. The second walk, to Danny Serretti, scored a run and made it 2-1. With the next batter, Jace Jung, batting, Murphy scored Gage Workman on a game-tying wild pitch. After Jung walked to reload the bases, Chris Meyers scored a run on a fielder’s choice grounder. Later in the frame, Brady Allen made it 4-2 on an RBI double.

After Erie loaded the bases again in the fourth, Jace Jung cleared the bases with a three-run double. Erie led 7-2.

They made it 8-2 when Serretti tacked on an RBI single in the sixth. Trei Cruz’s two-run single in the seventh gave Erie a 10-2 lead.

Erie’s bullpen was nearly spotless. Andrew Magno, Tyler Mattison, and Jake Higginbotham only allowed one single over the final four innings.

Flores (5-3) earned the win in his return. Murphy (2-9) took the loss.

Erie and Richmond conclude the regular season on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Jackson Jobe will pitch for Erie and make his Double-A debut. Wil Jensen will start for Richmond.