ERIE, PA - Thayron Liranzo spent most of the month of July on the injured list for the Erie SeaWolves (22-9, 58-41), but he finished it with a crucial eighth-inning home run to help the SeaWolves earn a 3-2 victory over the Akron RubberDucks (11-20, 46-53) on Friday night at UPMC Park.
Erie got the scoring started in the second inning against Akron starter Cam Walty. Andrew Jenkins slapped a leadoff single and EJ Exposito cracked one to the roof of the Erie Insurance Arena for his 18th home run of the season to give the SeaWolves a 2-0 lead.
Andrew Sears cruised through the opening four innings on the mound with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed on a half-swing infield single. But the lefty ran into some trouble in the fifth after he walked Alex Mooney to lead off the frame. Aaron Walton followed up with a double to move Mooney up to the third with no one out. Maick Collado lifted a sacrifice fly to score Mooney and Christian Knapczyk pushed across the second run on a double of his own to tie the game at two before Yosber Sanchez entered and escaped the jam.
Jack Jasiak picked up for Walty after he exited the game. The right-hander authored three scoreless frames and punched out five SeaWolves in the process.
Liranzo finally snapped the deadlock in the eighth. The switch-hitting catcher smashed the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall for his 10th home run of the season to push Erie into a 3-2 lead.
Trevin Michael maintained his brilliant form on the mound in the ninth. The SeaWolves' saves leader allowed a leadoff single to Jacob Cozart, but wasn't fazed. Michael induced a bouncer to Max Burt on the next pitch as the SeaWolves turned the double play to erase the baserunner. The righty struck out Aaron Walton to finish off the game and earn his sixth save of the year.
The SeaWolves clinch at least a series split with the win and improve to 13-2 on the season against Akron. Erie sends Carlos Peña to the mound tomorrow against Caden Favors for Akron. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM.
Single-game tickets, suites, picnics, The Club by Synchrony events, and Bud Light Party Deck groups are now available by visiting SeaWolves.com, calling 814-456-1300, or visiting the UPMC Park Box Office in person.