A dominant mound performance went to waste as the SeaWolves stranded multiple runners, allowing the Fightin Phils to steal a late victory through ninth-inning patience at the plate.
The Erie SeaWolves had enough chances to win Game 1 of the Eastern League Championship Series on Sunday, but they could not cash them in. Reading finally broke through in the ninth inning and came away with a 1-0 win at UPMC Park.
Joe Miller did everything Erie could have asked from him. The left-hander threw seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Reading had a few chances to push a run across, but Miller was able to work out of trouble each time.
His biggest escape came in the fifth. Aroon Escobar singled and Pedro León walked before Caleb Ricketts moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. With runners at second and third and only one out, Miller got Bryson Ware to pop out before striking out Bryan Rincon to end the inning.
Erie had its own opportunities and never found the hit it needed. Luke Shliger doubled in the second, then picked up another hit in the fourth after Thayron Liranzo doubled. That inning ended when Andrew Jenkins grounded into a double play with Liranzo standing at third.The SeaWolves had another chance in the sixth when Woody Hadeen and Peyton Graham opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Reading went to the bullpen and Mavis Graves shut the door, striking out Zyhir Hope and Liranzo before getting Shliger to ground out.
Seth Stephenson also gave Erie a chance in the eighth after drawing a walk and stealing second, but Graham lined into a double play to end the inning.That left the pitching staff trying to make a scoreless tie hold up, and the game finally turned in the ninth.
Moises Rodriguez walked Raylin Heredia, Carson DeMartini and Escobar to load the bases with nobody out. Colin Fields entered and got León to pop out on the infield fly rule, but Ricketts followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Heredia and gave Reading the 1-0 lead. Fields kept the deficit there, but the damage was enough.
Erie had the part of the lineup it wanted coming up in the bottom of the ninth, but Hope grounded out, Liranzo struck out and Shliger grounded out to end it.
The frustrating part is that Erie did not need much offense with the way Miller pitched. Shliger finished with two hits, Liranzo doubled and Graham singled, but the SeaWolves could not put enough of those opportunities together. They usually are much more aggressive on stealing the bases but only made one attempt this evening.
