HARTFORD, CT - The Erie SeaWolves (30-14, 66-46) produced some clutch magic once again with a pair of runs with two strikes and two outs in the eighth inning to retake the lead and earn a 5-4 win over the Hartford Yard Goats (16-28, 55-57) on Saturday night at Dunkin' Park.
Max Alba got the ball to start after pitching a season-long 5.1 innings in his last start against Altoona. The right-hander got into some early trouble after a leadoff walk to Jared Thomas turned into the first run of the game. Thomas swiped second base and moved up twice on groundouts to open the scoring for the Yard Goats.
EJ Exposito ensured that the deficit didn't last long, shooting his 21st home run of the season over the left-field wall to tie the game in the second.
Both starters settled in for the next three innings. Connor Staine finished his outing for Hartford after five innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and striking out six.
Erie quickly got to the Hartford bullpen to regain the lead in the sixth. Yard Goats reliever Austin Smith walked the first two hitters he faced and Thayron Liranzo roped a double past the first baseman to score Woody Hadeen and Zyhir Hope and put the SeaWolves up 3-1.
Alba remained in the game for Erie into the bottom of the sixth. After a quick out, the Yard Goats rallied to respond to the SeaWolves offensive outburst in the top of the inning. Braylen Wimmer doubled to left, Jack O'Dowd placed a single into right-field and GJ Hill doubled in a run to chase Alba from the game. Eric Silva entered with runners on second and third and a 3-2 lead, but Jimmy Obertop smoked a single up the middle to score two and put Hartford in front.
The one-run Yard Goats' lead held into the eighth inning. Victor Juarez entered from the bullpen and retired the first hitter he faced before Andrew Jenkins looped a single to right field, his second hit of the night. Izaac Pacheco followed with a walk to put the go-ahead run aboard. Roberto Campos found himself in an 0-2 count with two away and flipped the inning around. After a tight take for the first ball, Juarez spiked a slider to the backstop to place both runners in scoring position. The next pitch was more of the same as another slider evaded Jimmy Obertop behind the plate and allowed Jenkins to dive across the plate and tie the game. Campos delivered the final blow by lacing a single to right field to score Pacheco and give Erie a 5-4 lead.
Hayden Minton punched out the side in the bottom half of the inning to keep the momentum on Erie's side, touching 97 miles per hour with his fastball in his lone inning of work.
Erie turned to Yosber Sanchez for the save in the bottom of the ninth. The 25-year old walked the leadoff hitter in the inning and Hartford brought Tevin Tucker off the bench as a pinch runner. After Sanchez struck out Skyler Messinger for the first out, Tucker stole second and third base to increase the pressure on the SeaWolves reliever. Sanchez remained composed and induced a groundout to the mound before striking out Rockies No. 4 prospect Jared Thomas to end the game.
The SeaWolves look to make it 5-of-6 on the road trip with the series finale on Sunday afternoon. Kenny Serwa starts for Erie with first pitch set for 1:10 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.