The Erie SeaWolves just dropped Game 1 of the Eastern League championship 1-0 at home against the Reading Fightin Phils on Sunday, and man, does that sting. You get a superb start from lefty Joe Miller, but the bats were absolutely nowhere to be found, which means they’ll now have to take two on the road in Reading to even sniff that title.
Miller Was Dealing, But the Bats Were Silent
Seriously, Joe Miller was out there putting on a clinic. He got into a little jam in the first but powered through, then cruised into the fifth. Yeah, he had a leadoff single and a walk, no outs, classic tight spot. But then the Phils sacrifice bunted, giving him an out! Miller totally capitalized on that gift, popping up the next guy and punching out Bryan Rincon. Talk about slipping the noose! He was fired up, the team was fired up, but it just didn’t translate into any offense. The guy gives you 7.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K, a gutsy and brilliant outing, and you still can’t scratch one across? That’s just rough.
Zero Runs on the Board? Seriously?
Here’s where it gets frustrating. Luke Shliger ripped a double in the second with one out, and that was it! Their only hit until Thayron Liranzo doubled with one out in the fourth. Shliger walks right after that, and you’re thinking, “Okay, *now* we’re in business!” But then Andrew Jenkins grounds into a double play and snuffs out that threat completely. What a gut punch. Bottom of the sixth, Woody Hadeen and Peyton Graham lead off with singles. This is *the* moment, right? They needed to make something happen. And what happens? Zyhir Hope strikes out, Liranzo strikes out, and Shliger grounds out to end the inning. Just brutal to watch.
Late-Game Blunders Seal the Deal
The pitching and defense really held up, even after Miller left the mound. Tanner Kohlhepp takes over in the eighth, and yeah, he digs himself a hole with a single, wild pitch, and then a two-out walk, but he escapes it! He tried to fire up the guys after that escape, but it was no use. Then, the bottom of the eighth, Seth Stephenson singles to open, and this SeaWolves all-time stolen base leader quickly snatches second. Woody Hadeen takes a called strike three. Peyton Graham lines one to short, and Stephenson, thinking it was hit harder, gets caught off second for a double play that basically killed all hope, even if they didn’t know it yet. Closer Moises Rodriguez takes over, and while his high 90s sinker remains an impressive pitch and his numbers on the season are solid, Rodriguez still has minimal command of the pitch and can’t really spot it anywhere but arm side. His breaking ball is sharp, but comes from a completely different release, and it’s easily read out of hand. So, what happens? He walks the first three batters he faces! Colin Fields has to come in, gets a pop-out, but then Caleb Ricketts lifts a sacrifice fly, and just like that, it’s 1-0 Phils. Hope, Liranzo, and Shliger go down in order to end it. Just one run decided the whole thing.
So now the SeaWolves have to pack up and head to Reading, PA for Game 2, and maybe Game 3. They’ve got to win both on the road to take the title. After a performance like that, with Miller dealing and the bats just asleep at the wheel, you gotta wonder if they can find that offensive spark on the road. They need to come out swinging and leave everything on the field, or this championship dream is gonna be over way too fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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