Extra Innings

Pitching matchups:
Today: Erie RH Josh Rainwater (6-4, 3.86) vs. Akron RH Steven Wright (1-1, 6.75)
Friday: Erie RH Lauren Gagnier (0-1, 108.00) vs. Akron LH Ryan Edell (5-5, 4.30)
Saturday: Erie LH Danny Christensen (5-7, 4.44) vs. Akron RH Kevin Dixon (8-5, 4.12)
Sunday: Erie LH Lucas French (5-10, 4.70) vs. Akron LH Chuck Lofgren (1-4, 5.98)

Erie notes: After sweeping a three-game home series from Harrisburg June 27-29, the SeaWolves proceeded to lose 12 of their next 15 games and went into the All-Star break in last place in the Eastern League's Southern Division with a 39-58 record. That mark is the league's second-worst record behind only the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who are last in the Northern Division at 37-59 . … Erie is 3-11 in July and have lost its last four series. … The SeaWolves are 4-7 against the Aeros this season -- 1-3 at Jerry Uht Park and 3-4 at Canal Park. … Erie and Akron last played two weeks ago, with Akron winning three of four at Uht Park from June 30-July 3. … Right-hander Gagnier will make his second start for Erie on Friday following his July 8 transfer from Triple-A Toledo. He started at Reading on July 10 and gave up nine runs (eight earned) in 2/3 of an inning in a 14-10 loss. … First baseman Ryan Roberson was named the Eastern League player of the week on Monday for the week ending July 13. Roberson was 12-for-27 (.444) with two homers, nine RBIs, four doubles and eight runs scored in seven games last week. Roberson was one of five SeaWolves on the Southern Division Team at Wednesday's Eastern League All-Star Game in Manchester, N.H. Erie's five-player All-Star contingent included Christensen, closer Casey Fien, catcher Dusty Ryan and left fielder Wilkin Ramirez.

Akron notes: As Eastern League teams resume play today after a two-day all-star break, the Aeros sit atop the Southern Division standings with a league-best 61-35 record, 6½ games ahead of the second-place Harrisburg Senators and 8½ games ahead of the third-place Bowie Baysox. … Akron has won 15 of its last 19 games. … Outfielder Matt LaPorta is 6-for-16 (.375) with one homer, four RBIs and four strikeouts in four games since joining the Aeros after the Cleveland Indians acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers in the CC Sabathia trade. LaPorta was 1-for-3 with a walk for the U.S. Team in Sunday's Futures All-Star Game in New York City. … Infielder Wes Hodges also participated in the Futures Game for the U.S. squad, going 1-for-2 with a double. … Akron had three players attend Wednesday's EL All-Star Game as members of the Southern Division: Hodges, infielder Josh Rodriguez and pitcher Scott Roehl. Former Akron pitchers J.D. Martin and Randy Newsom also were selected to the game, but neither could attend after earning Triple-A promotions to Buffalo in the past two weeks. … Outfielder Trevor Crowe has been on Akron's disabled list since July 8 due to a strained left intercostal muscle. Crowe was the Eastern League's player of the month for June. Crowe, 24, hit .400 (42-for-105) with four homers, 24 RBIs, 32 runs scored, 16 walks, 10 doubles and five steals in 25 June games. He was the EL player of the week for the final two weeks in June, becoming the first EL player to win the award in back-to-back weeks since Harrisburg's Dee Haynes in 2005. … The Aeros are 30-17 at home and 31-18 on the road. … Catcher Wyatt Toregas is hitting .385 with three homers and 14 RBIs in his last eight games. Toregas hit three homers against Erie in Akron's 10-6 win at Jerry Uht Park on July 2. Akron belted seven homers in that game, one shy of its single-game franchise record.
-- Ron Leonardi