Lockhart Locks Down Goats on Friday
The SeaWolves opened a post All-Star break three-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats with a 3-0 win on Friday night at UPMC Park. The SeaWolves jumped ahead in the last of the first against Harford starter Case Williams. Trei Cruz led off with his team-leading 46th walk. Cruz moved
The SeaWolves opened a post All-Star break three-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats with a 3-0 win on Friday night at UPMC Park.
The SeaWolves jumped ahead in the last of the first against Harford starter Case Williams. Trei Cruz led off with his team-leading 46th walk. Cruz moved into scoring position on a Justice Bigbie base hit and scored on a two-out Dillon Dingler single for a 1-0 lead.
Erie extended the lead in the third when Bigbie led off with a single and advanced into scoring position on an error. Andrew Navigato doubled off the wall in left center, scoring Bigbie for a 2-0 advantage.
Erie starter Lael Lockhart was strong out of the gate, facing just one batter over the minimum over his first three innings of work. He walked the leadoff man in the fourth and fifth innings and in both frames, retired the side in order following the free passes.
Wenceel Perez scored the game’s final run when he led off the sixth and belted a solo home run to right. It was the fifth home run for Perez and his first at UPMC Park since May 25.
A trio of Erie relievers held the Goats off the scoreboard over the final four innings. Layne Henderson struck out three batters in the sixth and worked around a pair of baserunners. Tyler Mattison earned his first Double-A hold going six-up, six-down in his two innings of work. Andrew Magno stayed perfect in save opportunities, hurling a scoreless ninth with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. It was his fifth save.
Lockhart (2-0) earned the win allowing just one hit with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.
Williams (1-8) took the loss for Hartford allowing three runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
The shutout was Erie’s sixth of the season, second at UPMC Park and first since they shut out Harrisburg on June 18 at FNB Field.
The SeaWolves and Yard Goats play the middle game of the series on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Righty Sawyer Gipson-Long (5-5, 4.05 ERA) takes the mound for the SeaWolves against lefty Joe Rick (1-4, 4.28 ERA).