Three former pitchers for the Erie SeaWolves preserved Wednesday’s 1-0 victory by the Detroit Tigers over Kansas City Royals.

Drew Smyly, Luis Marte and Luke Putkonen combined with starter Max Scherzer for a six-hit shutout on a night that saw Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera become Major League Baseball’s first Triple Crown winner since 1967.

The Tigers, the American League Central Division champions, will take on the Oakland Athletics, the Western Division winners, in a best-of-five divisional round series that starts Saturday.

– Mike Copper

The Erie SeaWolves will hold a sidewalk sale for remaining items in their 2012 stock. The sale will take place Friday from noon to 6 p.m. at Jerry Uht Park.

Fans can save up to 65 percent on items sold during this past Eastern League season, although sizes and quantities are limited. They include t-shirts, caps, jerseys and jackets worn by the SeaWolves and their staff.

Call 456-1300 for information.

– Mike Copper

Read the rest of this entry »

Fans of the struggling Cleveland Indians still have something to celebrate.

The Akron Aeros won their fourth Eastern League title since 2003 with Saturday night’s 6-1 victory over the Trenton Thunder at Waterfront Park. Cleveland’s Double-A affiliate celebrated after clinching the teams’ best-of-five series in four games.

The Aeros insured themselves the title thanks to a three-run ninth inning. Adam Abraham and Ryan Rohlinger highlighted their victory, as each recorded two hits and an RBI.

– Mike Copper

Stash the brooms. The Trenton Thunder avoided being swept in the 2012 Eastern League championship series.

Trenton cut the Akron Aeros’ best-of-five final advantage in half with Friday’s 11-7 victory at Waterfront Park. Zoilo Almonte’s three-run home run highlighted his five-RBI night for the Thunder, who now trail the series 2-1.

Akron gets another chance to clinch its fourth league title since 2003 when the teams play game four Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in New Jersey. If needed, Sunday’s winner-take-all fifth game at Waterfront is scheduled for 4:05.

– Mike Copper

The Akron Aeros are one game away from their fourth Eastern League championship in a decade.

Akron took a 2-0 series lead against Trenton with Wednesday’s 7-5 victory at Canal Park. Jesus Aguilar and Ryan Rohlinger each hit two-run home runs for the Aeros, who seek to add to the titles they claimed in 2003, 2005 and 2009.

Trenton, which defeated Akron for league bragging rights in 2008, must now sweep three straight games in New Jersey, where the remainder of the series will take place. The third game at Waterfront Park is scheduled Friday at 7:05 p.m.

– Mike Copper

Starting pitcher Paolo Espino and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout for Akron, which blanked Trenton 3-0 in Tuesday night’s first game of the 2012 Eastern League championship series.

The best-of-five opener at Canal Park pitted the Western Division-winning Aeros against the Eastern Division-winning Thunder.

Tyler Holt starred on offense for Akron. The center fielder totaled two hits, a walk and scored twice.

– Mike Copper

The Eastern League’s best teams will meet for this season’s title.

The Western Division champion Akron Aeros will take on the Trenton Thunder, the Eastern Division pennant winners, starting Tuesday at Canal Park. Akron will host the first two games in the best-of-five final, with each first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Trenton will host the remaining games at Waterfront Park. The fifth and deciding game, if needed, would take place Sunday at 4:05 p.m.

– Mike Copper

The Akron Aeros forced a fifth and deciding game in their Eastern League playoff series against the Bowie Baysox Saturday.

Akron, the Western Division champion, edged the wild-card Baysox 2-1 at Canal Park. The Aeros will have the chance to rally from an 0-2 series defecit if they can beat Bowie in Sunday’s 7:05 p.m. finale.

Trenton remained up 2-1 in its Eastern Division series against Reading when Saturday’s fourth game was postponed by poor weather. The scheduled first pitch for Sunday’s game wasn’t immediately listed by the league.

– Mike Copper

Friday night saw Akron remain alive in its best-of-five Eastern League playoff series against Bowie, while Trenton moved to the brink of eliminating Reading.

The Aeros scored all of their runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of a 4-3 Western Division series victory at Canal Park. The wild-card Baysox still maintain a 2-1 series advantage going into Saturday’s fourth game.

The Thunder scored twice in the bottom of the eighth for their 3-1 Eastern Division win over the Phillies at Waterfront Park. The division titlists can advance to next week’s championship round with a third victory.

– Mike Copper

The Bowie Baysox are one game away from sweeping their Western Division final against Akron, while Trenton evened its Eastern Division series vs. Reading after Thursday’s Eastern League playoff action.

Caleb Joseph had a solo home run for one of his three hits in Bowie’s 7-5 victory over the Aeros at Prince George’s Stadium. Akron must sweep the series’ last three games at Canal Park to advance to next week’s championship series.

Trenton salvaged a split at FirstEnergy Stadium with its 4-1 victory over the Phillies. Addison Maruszak totaled two hits, two runs scored and a homer for the New Jersey franchise, which hosts that series’ remaining three games at Waterfront Park.

– Mike Copper