Harrisburg (40-65) quickly knocked around starter Reese Olson to open the night. Cole Freeman, Aldrem Corredor, and Rhett Wiseman singled in succession in the first inning to plate one run, and Olson balked with two runners on base for another run to score.
The lead was short-lived for Harrisburg, as Erie (57-49) rallied for two runs against Steven Fuentes. Andre Lipcius opened the frame with a double, and Daniel Cabrera was promptly hit by the next pitch to put two runners on base, while singles by Brady Policelli and Andrew Navigato drove the two in to tie the game.
The next half inning featured another run for Harrisburg, as Armond Upshaw opened with a walk and stole second base before advancing home on two ground outs. Olson would finally settle and pitch into the sixth inning before departing, taking a no decision in his longest start with Erie.
Making his first Major League rehab start with Harrisburg, Fuentes also took a no decision when he let up another tying run in the fifth inning. Drew Ward started the frame with a triple to right field, his first of the season. Kerry Carpenter followed with a ground out to easily score Ward.
The floodgates of the Harrisburg offense once again opened against the Erie bullpen, starting when Gilbert Lara smacked a go-ahead two-run home run off of Yaya Chentouf (L, 4-3) in the seventh inning. Jackson Reetz expanded the lead with a two RBI single in the eighth inning against Chavez Fernander, and Freeman continued in the ninth with a sacrifice fly to plate another. Jacob Rhinesmith knocked Fernander out of the game with an RBI double later in the ninth, serving the reliever a career high four runs.
Piggybacking Fuentes, Mario Sanchez took the back half of the work for Harrisburg on the mound, and earned the win for his effort. Sanchez (W, 4-7) allowed three base hits over his first two innings out of the bullpen, but kept Erie from reaching third base. Trailing by four runs in the eighth inning, Daniel Cabrera launched his first Double-A home run to left field to plate two runs, and Carpenter notched his first triple of the year in the ninth inning to drive in another run, but Erie could not get the tying run aboard.
Carpenter finished the day going 2-for-5 at the plate, extending his season-long hit streak to eight games. His two RBI on the night put him up to eight across the four games of the series.
Erie and Harrisburg continue their series on Saturday night at UPMC Park. The SeaWolves will welcome Tom Everett Scott (Guy “Shades” Patterson), Johnathon Schaech (James “Jimmy” Mattingly II), and Steve Zahn (Leonard “Lenny” Haise) to UPMC Park and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ‘That Thing You Do!’ The SeaWolves will wear custom Wonders jerseys that will be auctioned off through the Live Source App, with proceeds from the auction benefiting NoticeAbility, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students with dyslexia identify their unique strengths and build self-esteem. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive SeaWolves sunglasses in honor of the “Shades” that Guy Patterson wore in the movie. After the game, all fans are welcomed to stick around to watch the 1996 hit movie ‘That Thing You Do!’ on the UPMC Park HD Videoboard. The entire night is presented by UPMC Hamot and UPMC Health Plan. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.