Wednesday saw wild-card qualifiers Reading and Bowie claim the first games of their respective Eastern League playoff series by the same score.

Reading, aided by solo home runs from Jake Fox, Tommy Joseph and Leandro Castro, doubled up the Eastern Division champion Trenton Thunder 4-2 in their best-of-five opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Bowie also beat Western Division winner Akron by that same final at Prince George’s Stadium. Rhyne Hughes, Ty Kelly and Ronnie Welty each homered for the Baysox.

The series continue Thursday at those same sites.

– Mike Copper

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The Erie SeaWolves’ 57-84 record for 2012 was reflective in their overall attendance at Jerry Uht Park.

Total of 208,725 fans turned out for Erie’s 69 home games. Their average of 3,025, 11th in the 12-team Eastern League, was their worst going back to 2004.

The Binghamton Mets were last in average (2,984).

Richmond drew the most fans during the regular season (438,002). However, the Flying Squirrels had 70 home games to Reading’s 67.

The Phillies still led the league in average (6,368).

– Mike Copper

The Erie SeaWolves’ Eastern League season was defined by strange baseball scenarios sprinkled amid numerous losses.

They experienced both with the last batter of their last game for 2012.

Altoona beat Erie 2-1 Monday afternoon at Jerry Uht Park. The Curve recorded the game’s final out when Daniel Fields’ check swing on a pitch in the dirt resulted in a soft grounder back to reliever Victor Black.

The cricket-type play concluded the SeaWolves’ 57-84 season, the third worst record by any of their teams since the franchise joined the league in 1999. Only the 2000 (47-94) and 2002 (52-89) teams were worse.

– Mike Copper

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The next-to-last game of the Erie SeaWolves’ disappointing season was determined in its second-to-last inning.

The Altoona Curve sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the seventh of Sunday’s matinee at Jerry Uht Park. It resulted in seven runs, the difference in their 8-1 victory.

Erie takes a 57-83 record into Monday’s 1:35 p.m. series and season finale. Regardless of how they fare, the SeaWolves are assured of their third worst record since joining the Eastern League in 1999.

– Mike Copper

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Starting lineups for Sunday’s Eastern League game between the Altoona Curve and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:

Altoona Curve (70-70): 1. Drew Maggi SS, 2. Adalberto Santos DH, 3. Andrew Lambo RF, 4. Oscar Tejeda LF, 5. Stefan Welch 3B, 6. Jeremy Farrell 1B, 7. Charlie Cutler C, 8. Jarek Cunningham 2B, 9. Evan Chambers CF.

Starting pitcher: Tyler Waldron RH (1-2, 4.01 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves (57-82): 1. Jamie Johnson LF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Nick Castellanos RF, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Tony Plagman DH, 6. Daniel Fields CF, 7 Brandon Douglas 2B, 8. Corey Jones 3B, 9. James McCann C.

Starting pitcher: James Avery RH (10-12, 4.69 ERA).

– Mike Copper

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The Erie SeaWolves released their official 2013 Eastern League schedule before Saturday night’s game against the Altoona Curve at Jerry Uht Park.

Coincidence or not, those teams also will open next season on the same diamond. Erie welcomes the Curve for the first four games of a seven-game homestand, with the opener set for April 4 at 6:35 p.m.

Erie’s full 2013 schedule, with starting times for all games at Uht Park, is listed below.

– Mike Copper

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The Erie SeaWolves became the first Double-A team to score off Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jameson Taillon, but the pitcher was still good enough to help Altoona beat them Friday night.

Taillon, whom the Bucs took with the second overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft, lasted the first six innings of the Curve’s 4-3 victory at Jerry Uht Park. The right-hander (3-0) allowed all of Erie’s runs on six hits, walked one and struck out five.

The loss left the SeaWolves at 57-81. It also ominously assured them that they’ll finish with the Eastern League’s worst record this season.

– Mike Copper

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The Detroit Tigers called up a touted Erie SeaWolves outfielder Friday afternoon, only it wasn’t Nick Castellanos.

Instead, the parent club summoned Avisail Garcia from its Double-A affiliate.

Garcia hit .312 in 55 games for Erie. The 21-year-old began this season in Single-A Lakeland (Fla.), which left him with a cumulative minor league batting average of .299, along with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, for 2012.

There was no corresponding move mentioned for the SeaWolves, who begin their final Eastern League series with Friday’s 7:05 p.m. opener against Altoona at Jerry Uht Park.

– Mike Copper

No team in the Eastern League’s Western Division enjoyed more success against the Erie SeaWolves this season than Bowie.

How appropriate the Baysox secured a playoff berth against them.

Bowie, which finished 14-7 against Erie, celebrated its first spot in the postseason since 2008 with Thursday’s 8-6 victory at Prince George’s Stadium. The Baysox (75-62) will play the first-place Akron Aeros when the league semifinals begin next week.

The SeaWolves were a league-worst 57-80 after their final road game of 2012. Erie concludes its long season with Friday’s opener of a four-game series against Altoona at Jerry Uht Park.

– Mike Copper

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Four current players for the Erie SeaWolves, including star prospect Nick Castellanos, will remain on baseball diamonds even after the Eastern League franchise ends its regular season Monday.

Castellanos will join catcher James McCann and relief pitchers Michael Morrison and Tyler Clark on the roster of the Mesa Solar Sox for the 2012 Arizona Fall League. The league released its rosters and schedule Wednesday.

The six-team league will start Oct. 9 and conclude with its Nov. 17 championship game at Scottsdale, Ariz.

– Mike Copper

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