Postgame: For now, the SeaWolves avoided their first series loss at Jerry Uht Park with a thrilling win this afternoon. Erie will need to win Thursday to earn a series split. … Erie has lost only one series this season, which was their first road series at Reading in April. … Daniel Fields is day-to-day with a bruised rib. He will sit out Thursday and could start Friday. … Justin Souza moved to 3-0 on the season after pitching the final two outs in the top of the ninth inning. He did allow an inherited runner to score from third on a sacrifice fly but it was after Sean Nicol fought off several tough two-strike pitches. … Five home runs were hit Wednesday, all to left field. Hernan Perez hit his first home run since the third game of the season and only his second of the year. Wade Gaynor also went deep for his sixth home run, which is tied for ninth in the Eastern League. Tyler Collins is third with nine homers. … James McCann is hitting .329, which is third in the league.
Harrisburg Senators (23-22) at Erie SeaWolves (26-17)
11:05 a.m., Jerry Uht Park
NINTH INNING
Jimmy Van Ostrand strikes out swinging before Destin Hood ends a string of 15 retired batters in a row by Erie pitchers. Hood singled to center and is Harrisburg’s first baserunner since the fourth inning. Sandy Leon follows with a ground-rule double to center. Big break for Erie as it saved a run for the time being. That’ll be it for Ryan Robowski. Justin Souza comes on and Sean Nicol fights off several two-strike pitches before lifting a sacrifice fly to center to drive in a run. 6-5 Senators
The SeaWolves win it with two outs! Jamie Johnson led off with a walk before Eugenio Suarez singled to left. Instead of bunting, Hernan Perez swings away and lines out to center. Tyler Collins then flew out to left before an unusual play ended the game. James McCann singled to left to drive in Johnson. On the play, Suarez was a little aggressive with how he rounded second, which induced a throw from the left fielder. The throw ended up in the outfield area behind first base allowing Suarez to score. Harrisburg had a throw home to try and get Suarez but it was late.
EIGHTH INNING
Ryan Robowski on in relief of Victor Larez, who went 7 IP 7 H 5 ER 0 BB 5 Ks and will get a no-decision. Robowski goes 1-2-3 right away.
Wade Gaynor starts the inning with a hit off the left field wall but he stumbled around first and was thrown out going for a double. James Robbins followed with a single but Erie leaves another runner on base. Still tied 5-5.
SEVENTH INNING
Victor Larez goes 1-2-3 and has retired 11 in a row.
Michael Broadway comes on in relief of Nathan Karns, who went 6 IP 8 H 5 R 4 ER 1 BB 9 K and no-decision. Eugenio Suarez welcomes Broadway with a double off the left field wall. Hernan Perez moved him to third on a bunt but Suarez is stranded after a Tyler Collins strikeout and flyout from James McCann. Still tied 5-5.
SIXTH INNING
Victor Larez has settled down after the three-run homer. He gets two more strikeouts and has retired 8 in a row, including 5 by strikeout.
Nathan Karns strikes out the side with an infield single from Marcus Lemon mixed in. Lemon is 3-for-3 and none of his singles have gone beyond 65 feet.
FIFTH INNING
Victor Larez records his first 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout of Justin Bloxom.
Hernan Perez with his first homer since April 6 and we are tied up 5-5. Karns retired the next three hitters after Perez’s blast. There have been five home runs in this game, all to left field. 5-5
FOURTH INNING
That was a short-lived lead for Erie. Jimmy Van Ostrand leads off with a single before Destin Hood doubles down the left field line. After Sandy Leon lined out to second. Sean Nicol crushed a three-run homer to left. Victor Larez then struck out the next to hitters but Harrisburg now leads 5-3.
Wade Gaynor gets a run back with a deep drive to left to start the inning. After two quick outs, Marcus Lemon singles and Jamie Johnson walks but Eugenio Suarez flew out to end the inning. 5-4 Harrisburg
Starting lineups
Harrisburg – CF Brian Goodwin (.260), SS Josh Johnson (.250), LF Jerad Head (.272), 1B Justin Bloxom (.242), DH Jimmy Van Ostrand (.390), RF Destin Hood (.248), C Sandy Leon (.227), 3B Sean Nicol (.222), 2B Ricky Hague (.278)
Erie – CF Jamie Johnson (.268), SS Eugenio Suarez (.200), 2B Hernan Perez (.291), RF Tyler Collins (.254), C James McCann (.333), 3B Wade Gaynor (.214), 1B James Robbins (.255), DH Luis Castillo (.250), LF Marcus Lemon (.244)
Starting pitchers
Harrisburg RH Nathan Karns (4-2, 4.38) at Erie RH Victor Larez (5-1, 3.40)
THIRD INNING
Victor Larez leaves two 3-2 pitches over the plate and it’s 2-0 Harrisburg. Ricky Hague led off by drilling a 3-2 pitch off the Erie Insurance Arena. Three batters later, Jerad Head hammered a 3-2 pitch on top of the arena. The only Erie highlight was a bare-handed running play by Wade Gaynor to cut down Josh Johnson at first.
Erie rallies for three runs. Luis Castillo started with a double down the right field line before Marcus Lemon lays down a bunt. Ricky Hague was late to cover first, putting Lemon on first and Castillo on third. Jamie Johnson then hit a chopper to first and it was played at the plate. Castillo slid under the tag to cut the lead to 2-1. Suarez moved both runners over with a bunt and Hernan Perez struck out to almost end the threat. Tyler Collins stepped in and singled to right to drive in Lemon with two outs. Johnson also tried to score and was out by about 30 feet but the catcher dropped the ball on Johnson’s slide. 3-2 SeaWolves
SECOND INNING
Jimmy Van Ostrand leads off the top of the second with a single to right field but Victor Larez bears down to retire the next three hitters. Still scoreless.
Nathan Karns is rolling and has retired 6 in a row. Scoreless after 2.
FIRST INNING
Jerad Head rips a two-out double down the left field line but Victor Larez strands him on second by getting Justin Bloxom to fly out to left.
Jamie Johnson leads off with a single to left but Erie struggles to move him around the bases. Eugenio Suarez flew out to mid-right field before Hernan Perez struck out on an awkward swing. Johnson did go to second on a wild pitch two outs but Tyler Collins grounded out to first.
Pregame: The Erie SeaWolves are looking to avoid their first series loss since early April. … Daniel Fields is missing from the starting lineup for the second straight day with a side muscle pull. He will likely miss tomorrow’s game and will be evaluated Friday to decide if he starts the Akron series. … Erie holds a four-game lead on Harrisburg in the west division. … Erie has the second-lowest ERA in the Eastern League at 3.86. … Erie has allowed the second-fewest earned runs in the Eastern League at 160. … Will Startup was placed on the disabled list and Michael Morrison is back from Triple-A Toledo. Morrison made one appearance with the Mud Hens and allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings.
–Tom Reisenweber