ERIE, Penn. – A four-run second inning gave the Erie SeaWolves all they’d need on Saturday, as they defeated the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-3.
Cam Gibson and Josh Lester each had solo home runs for Erie in that second inning, followed later by a two-RBI double from Chace Numata.
New Hampshire battled back, putting up two in a fifth highlighted by Alberto Mineo’s triple, with Chad Spanberger going deep in the sixth, but the Fisher Cats just couldn’t find enough to overcome Erie’s early lead.
Isaac Paredes added another home run for Erie in the fifth for insurance.
New Hampshire was limited to just four hits, with Matt Manning putting in a masterful seven-inning start.
Manning saw his record climb to 9-4 while Thomas Hatch lost his first start in a Fisher Cats uniform.
Hatch, a member of the Chicago Cubs organization until being traded on July 30, put in four innings for the Cats, allowing four runs off six hits, striking out three.
The Fisher Cats and SeaWolves conclude the series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at UPMC Park.
