The bullpen continues to be an Erie SeaWolves’ bugaboo.

Erie’s relief pitchers blew a save opportunity for the third straight game Thursday morning. Unlike the previous two, though, the SeaWolves couldn’t recover from it.

The Reading Phillies rallied from a five-run deficit with a six-run seventh inning off Mark Sorensen and Michael Morrison. Their 8-6 victory resulted in a split of the teams’ four-game series at Jerry Uht Park.

The SeaWolves’ disappointing loss left them 22-23 going into a Memorial Day weekend series against Akron, the Eastern League’s Western Division leaders. Reading was 26-19 after their only northwestern Pennsylvania series appearance.

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »

Starting lineups for Thursday’s Eastern League game between the Reading Phillies and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:

Reading Phillies (25-19): 1. Tyson Gillies CF, 2. Cesar Hernandez 2B, 3. Darin Ruf 1B, 4. Miguel Abreau 3B, 5. Sebastian Valle C, 6. Jiwan James RF, 7. Leandro Castro LF, 8. Jeremy Barnes DH, 9. Troy Hanzawa SS.

Starting pitcher: Julio Rodriguez RH (3-0, 1.88 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves (22-22): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Brandon Douglas 2B, 3. Niuman Romero SS, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Rawley Bishop LF, 6. Rob Brantly DH, 7. John Murrian C, 8. Tony Plagman RF, 9. Corey Jones 3B.

Starting pitcher: Kelvin De La Cruz LH (2-5, 4.35 ERA).

– Mike Copper

This time, Rawley Bishop was on the other end of a game-winning scenario.

Bishop scored the winning run when the Erie SeaWolves beat Reading in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday. Wednesday saw him line a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, which scored Niuman Romero and Ben Guez.

Reliever Austin Wood made those runs hold up for the SeaWolves’ 4-2 victory at Jerry Uht Park.

Erie (22-22) ended its tie with the Phillies (25-19) when Romero and Guez reached against reliever J.C. Ramirez. They recorded a double steal and then raced home when Bishop sliced an opposite-field single to right.

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »

Starting lineups for Wednesday’s Eastern League game between the Reading Phillies and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:

Reading Phillies (25-18): 1. Tyson Gillies CF, 2. Cesar Hernandez 2B, 3. Tug Hulett 3B, 4. Darin Ruf 1B, 5. Brandon Tripp DH, 6. Jiwan James RF, 7. Leandro Castro LF, 8. Steve Lerud C, 9. Troy Hanzawa SS.

Starting pitcher: David Buchanan RH (1-5, 5.24 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves (21-22): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Ben Guez DH, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Rawley Bishop LF, 6. Rob Brantly C, 7. Brandon Douglas 2B, 8. Tony Plagman RF, 9. Corey Jones 3B.

Starting pitcher: James Avery RH (5-3, 3.13 ERA).

– Mike Copper

By MIKE COPPER

mike.copper@timesnews.com

Dave Dombrowski holds elite job titles like president, chief executive officer and general manager for the Detroit Tigers.

But when it comes to Justin Verlander, Dombrowski has often watched with the same kind wonder that many of the fans have at how dominant the former Erie SeaWolves pitcher has become.

“Verlander is a rare, rare talent,” said Dombrowski, who spoke to the Erie media before Wednesday’s Eastern League game between the SeaWolves and Reading at Jerry Uht Park. “You rarely see guys like that come along, and I’m so glad he’s part of our organization. I don’t think there’s anything he could do on a consistent basis now that would surprise me. He’s a threat any time he goes out there to throw a no-hitter.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Erie SeaWolves outfielder Tony Plagman picked the right game to hit for the cycle.

Plagman, with Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski in attendance Tuesday night, became the first Erie player to single, double, triple and homer in a game since 2008. He completed that feat with a ninth-inning single, one that also drove in Rawley Bishop for the winning run in the SeaWolves’ 8-7 victory over Reading at Jerry Uht Park.

Erie moved to 21-22 after a game that saw the team squander an early 7-0 lead. Reading (25-18) eventually tied it with a three-run seventh, but the SeaWolves took advantage of their last at-bats for Bishop to double and Plagman to single off Phillies reliever Juan Morillo.

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »

Starting lineups for Tuesday’s Eastern League game between the Reading Phillies and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:

Reading Phillies (25-17): 1. Tyson Gillies CF, 2. Cesar Hernandez 2B, 3. Darin Ruf LF, 4. Miguel Abreau 3B, 5. Sebastian Valle C, 6. Tug Hulett 1B, 7. Leandro Castro RF, 8. Jeremy Barnes DH, 9. Troy Hanzawa SS.

Starting pitcher: Trevor May RH (5-2, 2.91 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves (20-22): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Ben Guez RF, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B , 5. Rawley Bishop DH, 6. Rob Brantly C, 7. Brandon Douglas 2B, 8. Tony Plagman LF, 9. Bryan Pounds 3B.

Starting pitcher: Jared Wesson LH (4-2, 5.49 ERA).

**

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski arrived at Jerry Uht Park roughly 30 minutes before Tuesday’s game between the SeaWolves and Reading.

Dombrowski is scheduled to remain in Erie for Wednesday’s game, as well as hold a press conference beforehand.

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »

The biggest challenge to Jeff Foor’s new job as assistant groundskeeper for  the Washington Redskins’ training camp facility could be more emotional than physical.

“I’ve been a Buffalo Bills fan my whole life,” the 29-year-old Erie native said. “I’ll have to look at that trophy knowing that Super Bowl (XXVI) loss was the second of their four.”

Tuesday’s Erie SeaWolves game at Jerry Uht Park was Foor’s last as its assistant groundskeeper. The Bethel Christian graduate officially joins the National Football League franchise this weekend.

Check Wednesday’s Erie Times-News for more details on Foor’s  hire.

– Mike Copper

The last time fans of the Erie SeaWolves saw the team at home, they were streaking.

They still are after Monday’s game at Jerry Uht Park. Only now, it’s for the lesser.

The SeaWolves, whose previous homestand comprised part of a six-game victory binge, lost their fourth straight overall after Reading beat them 5-3. Erie (20-22) totaled 11 hits, including home runs from Jordan Lennerton and Rawley Bishop, but still stranded 10 bases runners.

Of those 10, eight were in scoring position.

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »

Starting lineups for Monday’s Eastern League game between the Reading Phillies and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:

Reading Phillies (24-17): 1. Tyson Gillies CF, 2. Cesar Hernandez 2B, 3. Tug Hulett 3B, 4. Darin Ruf 1B, 5. Brandon Tripp LF, 6. Sebastian Valle C, 7. Miguel Abreau SS, 8. Leandro Castro RF, 9. Jeremy Barnes DH.

Starting pitcher: Drew Naylor RH (2-1, 6.60 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves (20-21): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Rob Brantly C, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Ben Guez RF, 6. Rawley Bishop DH, 7. Tony Plagman LF, 8. Brandon Douglas 2B, 9. Bryan Pounds 3B.

Starting pitcher: Zack Segovia RH (4-3, 5.27 ERA).

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »