Postgame: Another tough game for the SeaWolves’ offense. Erie collected just four hits and had only two runners in scoring position the entire game. … Trevor May made two starts against Erie in 2012. He allowed 11 runs on 13 hits in seven innings to go 0-1 with a 14.14 ERA. Totally different start tonight as he throws 7 2/3 scoreless innings, including four hits and nine strikeouts. … The Erie starting rotation is in transition right now. Victor Larez, Kyle Lobstein and Matt Crouse are the only starters in Erie and Crouse didn’t even join the rotation until a few weeks into the season. The first hole is Warwick Saupold, who went to the disabled list Tuesday with a shoulder injury. There is no timetable for his return. The second hole is Ramon Garcia, who was called up to Triple-A Toledo to fill in a need. Drew VerHagen will arrive in Erie Wednesday and start Thursday’s day game. Larez was moved up to Wednesday after being scheduled for Thursday. VerHagen is the No. 16 overall prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization according to MLB.com. He is 5-3 with a 2.81 ERA this season for Lakeland and was drafted in the fourth round in last year’s draft out of Vanderbilt. The second need will come Saturday in Binghamton, which is Saupold’s next turn in the rotation. It’s not clear what Erie will do in that situation. Either another bullpen game or a move will have to be made. One option could be Patrick Cooper. He will pitch a simulated game Wednesday and the SeaWolves will make a decision about him after that session.
New Britain Rock Cats (32-36) at Erie SeaWolves (36-31)
7:05 p.m., Jerry Uht Park
NINTH INNING
New Britain tacks on a run as Reynaldo Rodriguez hammers a pitch on top of the Erie Insurance Arena. 8-0 Rock Cats
Eugenio Suarez draws a leadoff walk but nothing much going on for the SeaWolves tonight. They fall 8-0.
EIGHTH INNING
Tyler Clark loads the bases and walks a run in before being relieved by David Kopp. Kopp then strikes out top prospect Miguel Sano to end the inning. 7-0 Rock Cats
Trevor May retires the first two hitters and his night is over. 7 2/3 IP 4 H 0 R 9 K 1 BB and is line for his sixth win. Edgar Ibarra comes in to strike out Jamie Johnson to end the eighth. 7-0 New Britain
SEVENTH INNING
New Britain strikes for two more runs to take a 6-0 lead. After Danny Santana doubles and Eddie Rosario reaches on an infield single, Matt Crouse is lifted for Tyler Clark. Nate Hanson responds by doubling off the left-field wall to drive in one run. After two quick outs by Erie, Reynaldo Rodriguez singled to make it 6-0.
Hernan Perez and Daniel Fields start with singles to try and create a rally. Trevor May then strikes out the side to end the threat. The SeaWolves’ 6 through 9 hitters tonight are 0-for-10 with 6 Ks.
SIXTH INNING
A quick 1-2-3 rebound inning for Matt Crouse but Erie still trails 4-0.
Jamie Johnson rips a two-out single but not much else going on with the SeaWolves.
FIFTH INNING
Disaster strikes for Erie as New Britain takes a 4-0 lead. Nate Hanson had the big hit with a two-run single, while Miguel Sano had a sacrifice fly to drive in another run. On Sano’s flyball, the SeaWolves commit an error to allow a second run to score. 4-0 Rock Cats
James McCann finally breaks up Trevor May’s no-hitter with a one-out double. McCann, however, is stranded at third and the SeaWolves trail 4-0.
FOURTH INNING
3 up and 3 down for Matt Crouse and he has retired eight in a row.
Still scoreless as Trevor May retires 3 in a row and he has faced the minimum.
THIRD INNING
Matt Crouse is settling into a groove now and has retired five in a row. Still scoreless after two and a half.
Trevor May is in cruise control with a 1-2-3 inning.
SECOND INNING
Matt Crouse with some solid glove work. After allowing a one-out walk, Crouse strikes out Angel Morales and makes a terrific defensive play to grab a groundball to end the top of the second.
Trevor May with a quick 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout of Daniel Fields and two flyouts.
FIRST INNING
Matt Crouse works himself into trouble then immediately out of it. Danny Santana, Eddie Rosario and Nate Hanson all single to start the game to load the bases with no outs. After Josmil Pinto strikes out swinging, Miguel Sano and Reynaldo Rodriguez each pop out to end the threat. Still scoreless here at the Uht.
Jamie Johnson leads off the inning with a four-pitch walk but Erie can’t take advantage. After Eugenio Suarez flies out to left, Hernan Perez grounds into a double play to end the inning. Scoreless after 1.
Starting pitchers
New Britain RH Trevor May (5-3, 3.95) vs. Erie LH Matt Crouse (4-4, 3.67)
Starting lineups
New Britain – SS Danny Santana (.280), 2B Eddie Rosario (.250), 1B Nate Hanson (.292), C Josmil Pinto (.321), 3B Miguel Sano (.091), DH Reynaldo Rodriguez (.243), LF Daniel Ortiz (.279), RF Jordan Parraz (.222), CF Angel Morales (.063)
Erie – DH Jamie Johnson (.259), SS Eugenio Suarez (.253), 2B Hernan Perez (.306), CF Daniel Fields (.280), C James McCann (.317), RF Tyler Collins (.218), 1B James Robbins (.240), 3B Wade Gaynor (.219), LF Marcus Lemon (.227)
Pregame: Erie received some good news today as relief pitcher David Kopp was healthy enough to be activated from the disabled list. At the same time, starting pitcher Warwick Saupold was placed on the DL with a shoulder injury. He had his last turn in the rotation skipped on the road trip and there is no timetable for his return. … Erie is down to four starting pitchers and will likely lose Ramon Garcia to Triple-A Toledo, which needs a starting pitcher in a few days. Victor Larez has been moved up to start Wednesday and a move will be made Thursday for a starting pitcher. Saupold’s next spot in the rotation is Saturday, meaning Erie will need to make a move before then or use a bullpen game. Ryan Robowski started a bullpen game in New Hampshire when Saupold was skipped. The SeaWolves could get Patrick Cooper back to start Saturday’s game. He will throw a simulated game Wednesday to test his shoulder. If the simulated game goes well, he could be activated from the DL soon. … New Britain is the only team in the Eastern League not to play Erie this season. … The Rock Cats begin a 10-game, 10-day road trip to Erie, Akron and Altoona tonight. … Trevor May was hammered by the SeaWolves last year as a member of Reading’s pitching staff. He went 0-1 with 11 runs allowed in seven innings in two starts. May was sent to Minnesota with Vance Worley in a trade for Ben Revere.
–Tom Reisenweber
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