The Erie SeaWolves had an unusual second inning this evening.

Trailing 1-0 to the Reading Fightin Phils, Erie opened the inning with five straight walks off of pitcher Austin Wright.

After a pitching change to bring in Juan Sosa, the next batter up, Luis Castillo, hit a sacrifice fly, scoring James McCann.

After another walk, Hernan Perez grounded into a force play, scoring Brandon Douglas.

Jamie Johnson ended the inning with a ground out.

The damage: four runs with no hits. The SeaWolves had six walks in the inning.

– Rick Green

READING — A two-run second-inning rally proved too much to overcome for the Erie SeaWolves tonight as they lost 3-1 to the Reading Fightin Phils at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Erie (3-4) got into Reading’s bullpen, forcing the Phils (5-3) to use four pitchers, but managed just six hits overall. No Erie batter managed more than one hit.

SeaWolves starter Warwick Saupold (0-1) pitched well in defeat, allowing seven hits and two earned runs over seven innings while striking out eight and walking just one.

The Phils scored the only runs they’d need in the second inning off Saupold.

The SeaWolves scored their only run when Phils reliever Jay Johnson plunked Wade Gaynor with the bases loaded, forcing home a run to cut the lead to 3-1.

Erie plays at Reading today at 6:05 p.m.

– from staff reports

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

Here’s a look at the Eastern League leaders for bullpen ERA.

–Tom Reisenweber

Brandon Douglas sparked a stagnant Erie SeaWolves offense this afternoon with a two-out, bases-loaded bunt that scored two runs as Erie rallied to beat Altoona 5-2 and earn a series split in front of 1,051 fans at sunny Jerry Uht Park.

Erie (2-2) trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on first and second and two outs. Marcus Lemon reached on an infield single before Douglas laid down a perfect bunt to the third base side. Altoona (2-2) pitcher Jason Townsend fielded the bunt but his throw went down the right field line allowing two runs to score. Hernan Perez followed with his ninth hit of the season, a two-run double, to give the SeaWolves a 5-2 lead.

Justin Souza recorded Erie’s first save of the season with a perfect ninth inning after starter Warwick Saupold allowed one hit over five innings and Matt Crouse added three scoreless innings in relief.

Erie welcomes in Binghamton for a three-game set beginning Monday.

– Tom Reisenweber

The Erie SeaWolves couldn’t overcome an early deficit for the second straight game and Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jameson Taillon pitched well as the Altoona Curve hung on for a 6-3 win in front of 1,131 fans at Jerry Uht Park.

Taillon, despite allowing five stolen bases, allowed only four hits and struck out four in five innings of work. The Curve (2-1) bullpen allowed three runs over the final four innings but Altoona scored enough runs to secure the win.

Hernan Perez continued his hot start for Erie (1-2) with three hits, including a solo home run, and two stolen bases. He is 8-of-13 in three games this season. Brandon Douglas added two hits for the SeaWolves.

Adalberto Santos and Andrew Lambo each had three hits for the Curve, including a home run in the ninth inning by Lambo.

– Tom Reisenweber

Think it was too cold to play baseball today?

The Portland Sea Dogs did in their game this afternoon against the Trenton Thunder.

It was the first time the team ever called off a game because it was too cold.

The Associated Press reported the temperature was 36 degrees.

Hats off to the SeaWolves for playing the last two days in temperatures not much better.

The official reason cited for Saturday’s postponement was unplayable field conditions.

We’ll see how warm things get in Maine for Sunday’s game.

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

Can you guess who this pitcher is?

Post it in the comments below.

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

The Erie SeaWolves struggled to string hits together tonight as Altoona used an early three-run inning to pick up its first win of the season 4-1 in front of 1,006 fans at Jerry Uht Park.

Matt Curry and Andrew Lambo drilled RBI singles and Carlos Paulino drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk to give Altoona (1-1) a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Mel Rojas tacked on a run in the fourth inning on an inside-the-park home run. Rojas, Curry, Lambo, Paulino and Jarek Cunningham each had two hits for the Curve.

Altoona retired 12 SeaWolves hitters in a row late in the game in a dominant pitching effort.

Erie (1-1) starter Patrick Cooper lasted just two-plus innings but the SeaWolves’ bullpen pitched seven strong innings to keep the game close.

Hernan Perez led Erie with three hits and James McCann had two.

– Tom Reisenweber

The Erie SeaWolves erupted for 12 hits, including seven extra-base hits, to dominate Altoona’s pitching in a 10-6 win to open the 2013 season in front of 3,689 fans at Jerry Uht Park.

Ramon Cabrera, who played for the Curve last season before coming over in a trade for Andy Oliver, finished with three hits, including two doubles. Luis Castillo had a two-run double and Daniel Fields crushed a grand slam in the sixth inning to help the Erie onslaught. Hernan Perez and Fields each had two hits for the SeaWolves and Wade Gaynor had three.

Kyle Lobstein was effective in five innings on the mound to pick up his first win with the SeaWolves. Lobstein allowed three runs on three hits and struck out six.

Alex Dickerson and Jarek Cunningham collected two hits each for Altoona.

– Tom Reisenweber