Fields, SeaWolves Offense Lead Struggling Bullen to Third Straight Win

Ryan Smith

Iron Man of the game, center fielder Daniel Fields, led the effort for the SeaWolves. Fields hit 4-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. The offense carried the SeaWolves tonight as the bullpen struggled on the way to a 9-7 victory against the Trenton Thunder on August 7.

The SeaWolves scored first on left-handed pitcher Jeremy Bleich (1-1, 2.72) when catcher Ramon Cabrera flew out to right field, scoring right fielder Jamie Johnson and putting shortstop Eugenio Suarez in scoring position. Suarez scored when left fielder Tyler Collins grounded out to second. Trenton got on the board in the third when left fielder Ramon Flores hit a three run home run off of right-handed pitcher Victor Larez (7-7, 4.67) to score third baseman Reggie Corona and first baseman Casey Stevenson. Heading into the bottom of the third, the score was 3-2 Trenton.

The SeaWolves tied it back up when Fields scored on a single from Collins. In the fourth, a solo home run from Thunder second baseman Jose Pirela and Corona's second run of the night led to Larez being taken out of the game after three and two thirds innings. Larez allowed seven hits, five runs, and a walk tonight while only striking out one. Left-handed pitcher and Eastern League all-star Will Startup came in to end the inning.

Bleich left the mound for righty Graham Stoneburner in the bottom fifth. Bleich gave up five hits, three runs, and four walks in four innings. He also struck out six. Stoneburner allowed Cabrera and Collins to score on a string of singles from the middle of the lineup. After five, the SeaWolves had it tied back up at five apiece.

After a quiet sixth inning, the SeaWolves took the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Fields hit a solo home run off of Thunder left-handed pitcher Aaron Dott. The scoring continued when catcher James McCann and third baseman Wade Gaynor scored on an inside-the-park home run due to an error committed by Stevenson. After seven, the Howlers led 8-5.

Kopp was replaced by right handed pitcher Justin Souza. Sanchez, Kopp's first walk, was scored by Corona. Souza was pulled after two-thirds of an inning and lefty Ryan Robowski took the mound. On a walk from Robowski, Kopp's second walk, designated hitter Kyle Roller, came home. Despite a dismal inning of pitching for the Howlers, they got out of the top of the eighth with a slim 8-7 lead. First baseman James Robbins got some of the lead back when Daniel Fields doubled deep to left field, making it 9-7 in favor of the SeaWolves.

Righty Melvin Mercedes kept it that way, earning the save. David Kopp notched the win tonight despite only pitching one-third of an inning and allowing two runs on no hits and walking two batters. Dott lost the game for the Thunder. The SeaWolves (61-53) look to sweep the Thunder (59-57) on August 8 at 7:05 p.m., building on their 0.5 game lead in the western division. The Howlers have a home series against the Binghamton Mets that starts with a double header at 5:05 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.

Adam Unger can be contacted at aUnger@ErieReader.com.