The Erie SeaWolves returned to UPMC Park with a win on Tuesday night. Pushing seven runs across early, Erie took down the Bowie Baysox 7-5. Riley Greene knocked his 10th home run of the season and drove in four runs, while Chance Kirby tossed five innings for his second win in Double-A.
Kirby provided Erie with a strong starting performance. The starter sat down the first 11 Bowie batters of the game, but started to struggle after walking a batter in the fourth inning, and Bowie struck for a pair of base hits in the frame to score a run. Doran Turchin slugged a two-run home run to left field in the fifth inning before Kirby could finish the frame.
Out of the bullpen, Ethan DeCaster was nicked for two unearned runs after spinning a perfect sixth inning. After a one out double, Bowie plated a run one run on an error and another on a groundout before he was lifted from the game. Chavez Fernander finished the frame for Erie, and went on to add a scoreless eighth inning.
Billy Lescher tossed the ninth inning for Erie, and struck out the side to earn the save.
Erie dominated Bowie’s Blaine Knight to start the evening. Riley Greene sent the second pitch of the day from Knight over the center field wall to give Erie the early lead. The SeaWolves took things a step further in the second inning when they struck Knight for five runs. Drew Ward and Ryan Kreidler each singled in runs in the frame, and Riley Greene added a bases-loaded triple to give Erie the six-run lead.
The offense slowed down after the second inning when Bowie turned over to their bullpen. Andre Lipcius opened the third with a solo home run off of David Lebron, but the ‘Wolves only collected two more hits over the final five innings against Lebron and Cody Sedlock.
Erie continues their series with Bowie on Wednesday at UPMC Park. It will be another Erie Piñatas game, as Erie will participate in Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión, a season-long event series celebrating Hispanic/Latino culture. The UPMC Park game day experience will be transformed with Latin music, colorful decorations, specialty food & drink items, and custom Erie Piñatas caps and jerseys to worn by the players. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.