ERIE, PA - Since Luke Shliger joined the Erie Seawolves roster on August 11th, he's put together one of the more impressive month-long stretches in the Eastern League. In game one of the Eastern League Playoffs presented by UPMC, the former San Francisco Giants farm hand smashed two grand slams, just the second time in recorded Eastern League history that a player has achieved the feat between the regular season and playoffs as Erie snatched a 1-0 advantage with an 18-6 win against the Richmond Flying Squirrels in game one of the ELDS.
Richmond broke the scoring open in the top of the first off of Erie starter Lucas Elissalt when Gavin Kilen smacked a triple and scored on a single from Sabin Ceballos.
The SeaWolves quickly responded in the bottom of the first when each of the first three hitters reached base on a single, walk and a fielder's choice that turned into a throwing error to load the bases. With one out, Andrew Jenkins was hit with a pitch to tie the game. Shliger followed up by blasting his first grand slam of the night to give Erie its first lead. A fly out and single later Seth Stephenson ripped another base hit to score a sixth run in the inning. Peyton Graham smashed his second hit of the inning, a two-run home run to lengthen the lead to 8-1 after just one inning of play.
Elissalt neutralized the Richmond offense through the fourth inning. The right-hander faced the minimum in both the second and third inning and stranded two runners on base after allowing back-to-back singles to open the fourth.
The Erie offense continued to pour on in the second inning. After a one-out-double from Chris Meyers, Jenkins lined a single to center field to plate the ninth run of the night. With two runners on board, EJ Exposito laced a double to score Jenkins. A single from Izaac Pacheco put two runners on base before Stephenson ripped yet another hit to plate two more runs and give Erie a 12-1 lead after two innings.
It was the Flying Squirrels that struck the next blow when Maui Ahuna singled with one out in the fifth. Trevor Cohen moved him to third with a double, and Dayson Croes scored a run with a line-drive single. Another liner from Gavin Kilen cut the lead down to 12-3.
Richmond plated one run with Colin Fields in for relief on an RBI-groundout from Jancel Villarroel in the sixth.
Shliger pounded his second grand slam of the game in the sixth and Graham grounded out for the second out of the inning to score a add another to the total. Erie went to the seventh leading 17-4.
Each squad traded late game flurries when Graham scored an 18th run on a ground out in the eighth. Richmond attempted a late inning comeback against Wandisson Charles in the ninth. Trevor Cohen bashed a leadoff home run and Sabin Ceballos grounded home Dayson Croes after Kilen moved him to third on a hard hit double. Charles eventually closed the door on the 18-6 win and led the SeaWolves to a 1-0 advantage in the series.
Erie plays game two on Thursday night at 6:45 p.m. Kenny Serwa starts for Erie opposite Jackson Flora for the Flying Squirrels. Erie can secure a place in the 2026 Championship Series with a win.
The 2026 Eastern League Playoffs are presented by UPMC. Single-game tickets, group experiences, and hospitality areas, including ballpark suites, picnics, The Club by Synchrony, and the Bud Light Party Deck, are now available for playoff games by visiting SeaWolves.com, calling 814-456-1300, or visiting the UPMC Park Ticket Office.