Brayden Byham

Staff Writer

The Erie SeaWolves, Detroit’s AA affiliate, opened up the 2026 Eastern League Southwest Division Series yesterday with an offensive explosion at UPMC Park, tallying a postseason franchise record of 18 runs and 17 hits in a dominant 18-6 victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels, San Francisco’s AA affiliate. 

While the entire Erie offense managed to reach base as early as the end of the second inning and all but one batter recorded at least one hit, the star of the first game in this best-of-three playoff series was undoubtedly No.6 Luke Shilger. The catcher, who was released from the San Francisco Giants’ minor league system on May 7, proved to his former organization that they made a decision worth regretting. He went on to accomplish a feat rarely seen at any level of baseball. 

After Richmond’s first baseman (1B) Sabin Cabellos hit an R.B.I. single to drive in shortstop Gavin Kilen in the top of the first inning and Erie’s 1B Andrew Jenkins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the frame, Shilger stepped up to the plate and smashed a grand slam to right field to break the 1-1 tie and give the SeaWolves a 5-1 advantage. A Steph Stephenson (center fielder) R.B.I. single drove in another run, and second baseman Peyton Graham hit a two-run shot to claim an 8-1 Erie lead after just one inning of play in front of an electric home crowd. 

Shilger was just getting started. 

Erie tacked on four more runs in the top of the second. Richmond did manage to cut the deficit to 12-4 in the top of the sixth, but Shilger silenced the Flying Squirrels and stunned the baseball world with a second grand slam to claim a 16-4 Erie lead. Shilger became just the third minor leaguer to have eight or more R.B.I.s in one game in 2026, and he became the first Seawolf to hit two grand slams in a single postseason game. Only 13 players in MLB history have hit two grand slams in one game, proving how rare and impressive Shilger’s performance was.

The SeaWolves went on to win the game at a final score of 18-6, and their eight-run first inning was the most scored in a single inning of a playoff game in team history. RHP Lucas Elissalt was credited with the win, giving up nine hits and three home runs in his five innings of work. Four Erie pitchers took the mound for one inning, with RHP Wandisson Charles closing out the game after Richmond added two runs in the top of the ninth in an attempt to forge a late comeback. DH E.J. Exposito recorded four hits, and Peyton Graham added three hits and four R.B.I.s. 

Despite giving up 15 hits, the SeaWolves’ pitching staff did not walk a Richmond batter until the top of the eighth, but the discrepancy of runs on the scoreboard can be credited to the visitors hitting just three for 13 with runners in scoring position. Needing to win the final two games of the series to play for the Eastern League Championship, Richmond will have to overcome potential pitching fatigue, having used eight pitchers in last night’s contest. 

The Flying Squirrels fall to 0-5 all-time versus Erie in postseason play. The SeaWolves look to close out the series at CarMax Park in Richland tomorrow with a 6:45 p.m. first pitch. If Richmond wins, the teams will play the third and final game of the series on Friday at CarMax Park with the Southwest Division title and a spot in the Eastern League Championship series on the line. The SeaWolves are just one win away from clinching their fifth consecutive appearance in the championship series, but they’ll have to take their high-flying offense on the road and ground the Flying Squirrels one more time on their quest to win their third championship in franchise history.