Starting lineups for Wednesday’s Eastern League game between the Akron Aeros and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:
Akron Aeros (49-35): 1. Jordan Henry CF, 2. Thomas Neal RF, 3. Chun Chen 1B, 4. Nick Weglarz LF, 5. Jeremie Tice DH, 6. Juan Diaz SS, 7. Adam Abraham 3B, 8. Roberto Perez C, 9. Davis Stoneburner 2B.
Starting pitcher: Paolo Espino RH (2-2, 3.51 ERA).
Erie SeaWolves (40-42): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Nick Castellanos 3B, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Avisail Garcia RF, 6. Rawley Bishop DH, 7. Tony Plagman LF, 8. Brandon Douglas 2B, 9. Luis Sanz C.
Starting pitcher: Cesar Carrillo RH (0-0, 2.25 ERA).
– Mike Copper
The SeaWolves welcome Akron and Harrisburg for a six-game homestand that leads into the Eastern League All-Star break. The Aeros and Senators will each play three times at Uht Park.
Akron went into Independence Day with the league’s best record. The Western Division leaders are 5½ games up on the Senators for first place.
Erie and Altoona are each eight games back of Akron. However, the six-team division entirely remains in the playoff chase, as only 3½ games separate second-place Harrisburg (43-40) and last-place Richmond (40-44) for the division’s wild card berth.
Independence Day fireworks are scheduled to follow today’s 7:05 p.m. first pitch. That’s the scheduled starting time for all three games in the series.
Probable starters for the series are: Akron RH Paolo Espino (2-2, 3.51 ERA) vs. Erie RH Cesar Carrillo (0-0, 2.25 ERA) today; LH T.J. House (5-2, 3.92) vs. RH James Avery (9-6, 4.29) Thursday; and LH Giovanni Soto (5-5, 3.98) vs. LH Ramon Garcia (6-7, 3.84) Friday.
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Outfielder Avisail Garcia will be the SeaWolves’ latest player to make his Double-A debut.
The Detroit Tigers promoted Garcia, 21, to Erie before Wednesday’s game. Signed as a nondrafted free agent in 2007, the Venezuelan took the roster spot vacated by Bryan Pounds’ weekend promotion to Triple-A Toledo.
Garcia and Tyler Collins were Lakeland’s most lethal hitters upon Nick Castellanos’ June 3 call-up to Erie. Garcia led the Flying Tigers in home runs (eight) at the time his summons, and was third in batting average (.289) and RBIs (36).
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The SeaWolves will wear patriotic caps for their series against Akron. Those red, white and blue caps will be signed and auctioned, with the proceeds to benefit military veterans.
