Winner-take-all-Wednesday: Somerset routs SeaWolves to force a series-deciding Game 3

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. ― After just two innings Tuesday it was clear the Erie SeaWolves were in trouble against the prospect-heavy Somerset Patriots lineup.

Erie trailed 4-0 after one inning and 8-2 after the second. The SeaWolves, riding a three-game winning streak in the playoffs, never recovered as the Patriots won 9-2 in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series in front of 4,112 fans at TD Bank Ballpark.

With the best-of-three series tied, the 'Wolves and Patriots meet at TD Bank Ballpark one more time, Wednesday at 6:35 p.m., to decide the championship.

“They bang. They hit balls hard and Chance (Kirby) didn't have it (Tuesday),” SeaWolves manager Gabe Alvarez said. “That's what I told him when I went to get the ball from him. He's had a heck of a season and we don't get this far without him.

"We're going to have to make quality pitches and be careful with this lineup. We have to execute the game plan. We did it at home and have a fully loaded bullpen.”

The SeaWolves will turn to Ty Madden, the No. 4 prospect for the Detroit Tigers. Madden was a first-round pick out of Texas in 2021. The 22-year-old went 6-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 19 starts in West Michigan this year before going 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA over seven starts with Erie.

Somerset will start Randy Vasquez, the No. 15 prospect for the Yankees. Vasquez, 23, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and is 2-7 with a 3.90 ERA with Somerset this year. He allowed two runs on two hits and walked four in three innings against Erie in April.

Erie SeaWolves starter Chance Kirby struck out one, walked one and gave up five hits and five runs in 1⅓ innings Tuesday in a 9-2 loss to Somerset in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
Erie SeaWolves starter Chance Kirby struck out one, walked one and gave up five hits and five runs in 1⅓ innings Tuesday in a 9-2 loss to Somerset in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Here are 5 key moments from Game 2:

Erie misses early opportunity

The SeaWolves were gifted a chance to score in the first inning when Parker Meadows lifted a two-out popup high in front of the plate and it bounced off Somerset pitcher Yoendrys Gomez to put Meadows on second base. Quincy Nieporte, one of the top power hitters in the league, struck out looking to strand Meadows.

Somerset battered Erie pitching in the first two innings Tuesday to rout Erie 9-2 and force a decisive Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series on Wednesday night.
Somerset battered Erie pitching in the first two innings Tuesday to rout Erie 9-2 and force a decisive Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series on Wednesday night.

Prospect power

The Yankees prospects in the lineup had a big night including a four-run first inning. Trey Sweeney put a ground-rule double over the fence, then No. 2-ranked prospect Jasson Dominguez beat out an infield single. Austin Wells, the No. 4 prospect for New York, jumped on the first pitch for a towering three-run home run to right field. Jesus Bastidas added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

The Somerset Patriots beat Erie 9-2 Tuesday to force a decisive Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series on Tuesday night.
The Somerset Patriots beat Erie 9-2 Tuesday to force a decisive Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series on Tuesday night.

Joyce gets Erie back in the game

Danny Serretti led off the second inning with his sixth hit of the postseason, but it was nearly wasted as Gomez struck out the next two hitters. Corey Joyce, who was activated from Triple-A Toledo before the series, hit the first pitch he saw to deep left field for a two-run home run to get the SeaWolves within 4-2.

Dominguez and Dunham hit dingers

Moments after Joyce's home run landed, Dominguez and Elijah Dunham all but put the game away in the bottom of the second inning. With one on and one out and reliever Carlos Guzman in the game, Dominguez hammered a 2-2 pitch for a two-run homer. Wells followed with a single and, with two outs, Dunham clobbered a 2-2 pitch for his own two-run homer to give Somerset an 8-2 lead.

Somerset Patriots rout Erie on Sept. 27, 2022 evening to force decisive Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series
Somerset Patriots rout Erie on Sept. 27, 2022 evening to force decisive Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series

Postgame decision

Alvarez had several options when it came to the starting pitcher for Wednesday with the season on the line. He didn't hesitate when saying Madden was the choice.

“Ty is the perfect guy. If I could pick someone for a final deciding game, it would be Ty. He has the mentality to do it and we are all backing him,” Alvarez said. “It's going to be exciting.”

Listen to Game 3 live online at milb.com/erie/fans/audio-listen-live and over the air at Fox Sports-AM/1330 or subscribe to watch at milb.com. Join a watch party with other fans starting at 6 p.m. at John Russell Brewing Co., 7520 Peach St. Follow the game on Twitter at @ETNReisenweber.

Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie SeaWolves fall to Somerset Patriots in championship series Game 2