French On Fire As 'Wolves Win 2-1
Luke French won his fifth game of the season after a masterful performance.
The SeaWolves won a thriller at Jerry Uht Park, 2-1 over the Harrisburg Senators in the opener of a three-game weekend series.
Erie got on the board in the bottom of the third against Harrisburg starter Craig Stammen. Jeff Kunkel led off with his first Double-A hit and Casper Wells walked to put two on with no one out. Will Rhymes followed with a single to right center, scoring Kunkel, putting the ‘Wolves ahead 1-0. On the play well moved from first to third and he scored on a Wilkin Ramirez sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game.
The Senators cut the lead down to a run in the top of the fourth. Luis Jimenez stepped in with two outs and connected on a solo home run over the wall in left field. The home run was his 12th of the season and it made it a 2-1 game in favor of the ‘Wolves.
Luke French (5-7) picked up his fifth win and second victory over Harrisburg going eight innings, allowing a run on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout. French lowered his ERA down to 4.50 and is 2-1 with a no-decision in his last four starts. It also marked the second straight day where an Erie starting pitcher worked eight innings.
Casey Fien entered the ballgame in the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Jimenez. Ofilio Castro laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Jimenez into scoring position. Fien struck out Andrew LeFave for the second out. On a Garrett Guzman intentional walk, Fien tossed a wild pitch allowing Jimenez to reach third. He then struck out pinch-hitter Marco Yepez for the final out of the game, picking up his seventh save of the season.
The SeaWolves were limited to just three hits in the game but made the most of them as they never trailed in the game.
Ryan Roberson went 0-2 with a walk and his 19-game hitting streak came to an end.
UP NEXT -
The SeaWolves and Senators meet in the middle game of a three-game set at Jerry Uht Park on Saturday night...7:05 First Pitch. Righty Josh Rainwater (5-3, 4.64 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against RHP Bobby Brownlie (6-0, 3.31 ERA)
