Extra innings, walk-offs and other fireworks: Erie SeaWolves start the 2nd half on a roll
The SeaWolves had a long trip Sunday night, but the bus ride to Harrisburg was a little easier after another thrilling win over Akron.
Erie started the second half by taking three of the five games against the RubberDucks heading into a two-week period against struggling teams where the 'Wolves could establish a lead in the Eastern League standings. After six games in Harrisburg, the SeaWolves will play host to Binghamton before the All-Star break.
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Wild series with the RubberDucks
Although it's not possible for Erie and Akron to meet in the playoffs this year, the past week had a playoff-type feel at UPMC Park. The SeaWolves won three games with one game postponed because of weather.
The week started with an 11-10 Erie win. Akron led 7-3 before the SeaWolves scored five runs in the eighth inning to take a 10-9 lead. Eric De La Rosa started the rally with an RBI single before Wenceel Perez cut the lead to 9-7 with a sacrifice fly. Andre Lipcius followed with a two-out, two-run double to tie the game and Dane Myers gave Erie the lead with an RBI single.
Akron was down to its final out in the top of the ninth when Chris Roller tied the game on an inside-the-park home run. It was the first inside-the-park home run at UPMC Park since Josh Lester hit one in June 2021.
Perez, however, gave Erie the walk-off win with a double in the 10th inning after Yaya Chentouf kept the placed runner from scoring in the top of the inning.
The Ducks won the second game 5-4, but Erie nearly pulled off another rally. Dillon Dingler blasted a two-run home run in the ninth inning to cut the Akron lead to one run, but the SeaWolves couldn't complete the comeback.
Erie outlasted Akron 13-9 on Thursday as the Ducks had four costly wild pitches leading to runs. On Saturday, Akron tied the game at six in the ninth inning before erupting for four runs in the 12th inning to go up 10-6. Gage Workman blasted a three-run home run to make it 10-9, but the 'Wolves couldn't complete another rally.
Erie finished the week with another thrilling win on Sunday, 6-4 in 10 innings.
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July 3 magic
Lipcius entered his name into UPMC Park lore regarding July 3 games on Sunday. The SeaWolves were being no-hit for the first four innings and trailed 4-1 going into the ninth inning. After Dingler lifted a sacrifice fly to right, Workman came through again with a two-out, opposite-field two-run single to tie the game at 4.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Lipcius was looking to move the placed runner to third when he crushed a 2-2 pitch off the scoreboard for a two-run walk-off home run.
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It is the third time in the past four seasons that the SeaWolves won on July 3 on a walk-off home run. Jake Rogers blasted a walk-off home run in front of a record crowd of 7,020 in 2018 before Derek Hill crushed a walk-off home run in front of a record crowd of 7,045 in 2019.
With no season in 2020, the special events on July 3 continued in 2021 as Reading threw a combined no-hitter. It was the fourth overall no-hitter in ballpark history.
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Overcoming the long road
One understood rule by schedule-makers in Minor League Baseball is that each team will get a home game on either July 3 or July 4. It gives every team a chance to host a game in front of a big crowd and shoot off fireworks. The rule was suspended in 2021 because of COVID-19, but it was back in place this year.
With the Fourth of July taking place on a Monday and both July 3 and July Fourth games being night games, the SeaWolves were in a tough situation. The 'Wolves had to leave immediately after the game Sunday and travel 6 hours by bus to Harrisburg to play Monday night.
Despite arriving early in the morning, the SeaWolves were rested enough to score nine runs in a thrilling 9-7 win in 11 innings. It was the third extra-inning game over the past week for Erie.
The SeaWolves raced out to a 5-0 lead and led 7-3 at the seventh-inning stretch. The SeaWolves' bullpen couldn't hold the lead as Harrisburg made it 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings and both teams failed to push across the placed runner in the 10th inning.
In the top of the 11th inning, with two outs and facing another scoreless inning, Workman crushed a 3-2 pitch the opposite way for a two-run home run to give Erie a 6-4 lead. Gerson Moreno shut the door in the bottom of the inning to secure another big win for the 'Wolves.
The week ahead
The SeaWolves had Tuesday off as compensation for playing on Monday. The 'Wolves are scheduled to play the Senators at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, at 7 p.m. Friday, at 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
The 'Wolves return home on July 12 for six games with Binghamton before a four-day break.
Erie is a half-game back of Bowie for first place in the Southwest Division in the second-half standings at 4-2, while Harrisburg is 2-5.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie SeaWolves start 2nd half on a roll in Eastern League
