A three-run first helped lift the Erie SeaWolves (8-14) to a 6-2 win over the Bowie Baysox (11-11) in the series opener on Monday night at UPMC Park in Erie.
The Baysox have dropped four straight for the first time since losing nine in a row from June 7-16, 2017.
In the afore-mentioned three-run first, a single, walk and error charged to Baysox SS Adrian Marin loaded the bases with two away before Josh Lester knocked home all three runners with a three-run double into the right centerfield gap that gave Erie a 3-1 lead.
All three runs in the inning were unearned.
Trailing 6-2, Bowie had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, but RHP Zac Houston got Austin Hays to ground into a 5-4-3 double play and end the inning.
The Baysox grabbed an early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first as Corban Joseph reached with a one-out double and scored later in the frame on Ademar Rifaela’s RBI double.
Kody Eaves’ solo shot in the second off of Bowie starter Luis Ysla made it a 4-1 game in favor of the SeaWolves.
Corban Joseph brought the Baysox within 4-2 in the third via a solo blast off of Erie starter Beau Burrows. The home run was Joseph’s second of the season.
Erie stretched the lead to 6-2 with solo runs in each of the next two frames.
The run in the fourth was charged to Bowie RHP Matthew Grimes (4.0 IP, H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K).
Ysla (3-2) gave up four runs (one earned) on five hits to go along with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings of work.
Burrows (2-2) allowed two runs on seven hits while walking one and fanning six in 6.0 IP.
The Baysox committed three errors for the second consecutive game.
Joseph (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB, 2 R), Marin (2-4) and Rifaela (2-4, 2B, RBI) all had multi-hit games for manager Gary Kendall’s squad, while RHP Jay Flaa (2.0 IP, BB, 2 K) had a scoreless outing in relief.
The series continues on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. as LHP Keegan Akin (2-2, 3.43) gets the start for the Baysox against Erie RHP Sandy Baez (0-1, 4.05).
