Jung Blasts First Homer In Erie's Late Loss

The SeaWolves fell late to Akron on Friday, 5-3.

Keider Montero was looking to win his seventh consecutive start for Erie. He allowed a first-inning run as Akron hit four singles in the first inning including a two-out RBI hit by Aaron Bracho.

Erie tied the game against Tommy Mace in the bottom of the second. Julio Rodriguez led off with a solo blast. It was his 13th home run of the season and second in as many games.

Bracho smoked a two-out triple in the third inning. He scored as Korey Holland followed with a double, giving Akron a 2-1 lead.

Jace Jung made sure Erie was not trailing for long. In the bottom of the third with Danny Serretti on first, Jung lined a two-run home run to the opposite field. It gave Erie a 3-2 lead.

Keider Montero settled in to give himself a chance to earn a win. He completed five frames, allowing seven hits, two runs, two walks, and seven strikeouts.

Blake Holub tossed two scoreless innings and gave way to Andrew Magno for the eighth. Magno struggled, allowing a single to Gabriel Rodriguez and a one-out double to Bracho. Magno then threw a wild pitch, scoring Rodriguez as the tying run. Magno walked two with two out but stranded the bases loaded.

Akron went ahead in the ninth inning. With one out, Tim Naughton allowed a go-ahead solo homer to Jose Tena. Tena had the tying homer in last night’s ninth inning as well. Juan Brito doubled ahead of Bracho’s fifth hit of the game. His second double plated an insurance run, making it 5-3.

Erie could not come back against Franco Aleman (2-0), who earned the win in relief with a pair of perfect innings to close out the game. Naughton (2-2) took the loss.

The series continues on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. with Ty Madden pitching for Erie against Akron’s Hunter Stanley.