'Wolves Down Reading 4-3...Four Solo Home Runs for Erie
Published on August 9, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
The SeaWolves took down the Reading Phillies in a one-run thriller, 4-3 at First Energy Stadium on Saturday night for the team's fifth straight win. It marks the first five-game winning streak for the SeaWolves this season.
The âWolves did it once again with the long ball hitting four solo home runs in the contest. Erie has now hit 20 home runs in the last six games.
The Phillies struck first against Erie starter Danny Christensen in the bottom of the first inning. Michael Spidale led off and connected on an opposite field solo home run, his eighth, giving Reading a 1-0 lead. It was the first Reading lead of the series.
The Reading lead however, would be short lived as the âWolves battled right back in the top of the second against the R-Phils starter Antonio Bastardo. Ryan Roberson led off the inning and crushed his 22nd home run over the wall in centerfield. The solo-shot tied the game at 1-1. With two outs in the inning, Santo De Leon slammed his fourth home run of the season to put the âWolves ahead 2-1.
The Phillies tied the game in the bottom of the second. John Suomi and Joey Hammond each hit singles to start the inning. With one out, the runners advanced on a passed ball with Jake Blalock batting. Blalock hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Suomi, making it a 2-2 game.
The SeaWolves regained the lead in the top of the third when, with two outs, Wilkin Ramirez connected on his 18th home run over the wall in left to give the âWolves a 3-2 lead. The home run for Ramirez was his third in the last two games.
The score would remain the same until the top of the eighth inning. Reliever Travis Minix for Reading held the SeaWolves scoreless from the final out in the third until two outs in the eighth innings. That's when Casper Wells stepped in and homered to dead center to put Erie up 4-2. The solo home run for Wells was his 12th and his second in as many games.
Rudy Darrow came into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and struck out Neil Sellers for the first out. He then allowed walk to Suomi to put a man on first. Darrow retired Hammond for the second out but Luke Appert made it a one-run game on a dribbler through the right side, scoring Suomi, making it 4-3 Erie. Darrow then struck out Blalock on a 3-2 pitch to end the game as he picked up his second save of the season.
Christensen got the win for the âWolves, improving to 6-8 on the season. He went six innings allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and he tied a season-high with eight strikeouts. It was the first win for Christensen since June 26 at Trenton.
The SeaWolves improved to 10-2 against the Phillies and the club will go for their third sweep of Reading on Sunday.
ECHL Stories from August 9, 2008
- 'Wolves Down Reading 4-3...Four Solo Home Runs for Erie - Mississippi Sea Wolves
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