Gipson-Long Twirls Gem as Erie Secures Series Win

Sawyer Gipson-Long brought a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and Erie led wire-to-wire in a 5-0 win over Richmond.

Erie forced Richmond starter Kai-Wei Teng to throw 40 pitches in the first inning. The first three SeaWolves batters of the game reached on a walk and two singles to load the bases. With one out, Teng walked Andrew Navigato and Julio Rodriguez consecutively to force home the first two runs of the game. Gage Workman followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home a third.

The SeaWolves had a multitude of baserunners over the first few innings against Teng and reliever Spencer Bivens, but stranded eight runners on base over the first four innings. Bivens walked the bases loaded with none out and the fourth but Erie did not score. Teng (0-3) took the loss.

Erie broke through against Evan Gates in the sixth inning. With two out, Colt Keith reached on an error and Wenceel Perez walked. Jake Holton followed with a two-run double, the first of two doubles for Holton in the ballgame, extending Erie’s lead to 5-0.

Sawyer Gipson-Long, who’s previous start was skipped to give him time to learn a new pitch, was masterful. His new cutter helped him work into the sixth without allowing a hit. He allowed two singles in the sixth inning, but stranded both in scoring position. Over his six shutout innings, Gipson-Long (5-3) struck out eight and allowed just one walk on his way to the win. He threw 101 pitches, a career high in his fourth professional season.

RJ Petit allowed three consecutive singles to begin the seventh inning. But, the right-hander was able to strand the bases loaded without a run scoring. Andrew Magno threw two scoreless innings to end the game and secure Erie’s fourth shutout win of the season.

Wilmer Flores starts the series finale tomorrow opposed by Ryan Murphy. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m.