SeaWolves Sweep Doubleheader, Series Over Goats

The SeaWolves completed a three-game series sweep over the Hartford Yard Goats with a doubleheader sweep on Sunday afternoon at UPMC Park. Erie shut out Hartford 1-0 in game one and clubbed their way to a 9-2 win in game two.

Game One

In the opening game of the twin bill, Erie’s Sawyer Gipson-Long and Hartford’s Joe Rock were locked in a pitchers duel.

A well-rested Gipson-Long, making his first start since July 3, was sharp scattering four hits over five innings of scoreless work. He allowed just one baserunner past first.

The game’s lone run came in the home half of the fifth when Ben Malgeri led off and blasted a solo home run, his eighth, to right for a 1-0 lead.

Erie turned to a pair of relievers in Adam Wolf and Blake Holub in the final two frames. Wolf retired the first two hitters before hitting a batter in a scoreless sixth. Holub retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh, earning his second save.

Gipson-Long (6-5) earned his first win since June 3. He struck out six batters and did not allow a walk for the second consecutive start.

Rock (1-5) took the loss allowing a run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts in six innings.

Game Two

The SeaWolves took a first inning lead against Goats starter Andrew Quezada in the first. Wenceel Perez singled with two outs and moved into scoring position on an Andrew Navigato base hit. Perez scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.

The Goats tied the game in the second on a Kieder Montero balk and the ‘Wolves quickly regained the lead in the last of the third. With one out, Perez clobbered a solo home run, his sixth of the season and second in the last three games. Navigato followed with a double and he scored on a Jake Holton base hit for a 3-1 lead.

The teams exchanged runs in the fifth. Niko Decolati doubled with one out and scored on a Kyle Datres base hit. In the bottom half of the frame. Holton led off with a single, moved to second on a groundout and up to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a Danny Serretti sacrifice fly making it 4-2.

Erie broke the game open in the sixth against former SeaWolves reliever Nick Kuzia. Ben Malgeri walked, Justice Bigbie singled and Perez walked, loading the bases. Navigato laced a three-run double down the left field line with his third hit of the game. Holton followed the double with a walk and Chris Meyers singled home Navigato making it 8-2. Holton would later score on a wild pitch, capping a six-run inning.

Montero (8-2) won his fifth straight start. He allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in five innings. In two starts against Hartford this season, Montero racked up 20 strikeouts.

Quezada (1-4) took the loss allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings.