Hot-Hitting Hafner Shares AL Honor

Don't blame Travis Hafner for the Indians' recently completed 2-5 trip to Boston and Detroit. Cleveland's designated hitter was named co-player of the week in the American League, sharing the honor with Boston DH David Ortiz.

Hafner hit .385 (10-for-26) with seven runs, three doubles, four homers and nine RBI in seven games. In four games against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, he went 7-for-15 with two homers and six RBI.

Cleveland right-fielder Casey Blake, who also had four homers during the week, was among those also nominated, including Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau and pitchers Dan Haren of Oakland and Casey Fossum of Tampa Bay.

Class AAA Buffalo (60-55) lost 5-4 at home to Ottawa. Rafael Perez (0-1, 4.63 ERA) gave up two runs over two innings to lose it. Starter Jake Dittler (5.13 ERA) allowed three runs over six innings, striking out six. Andrew Brown (2.64) pitched a perfect ninth. Einar Diaz (.224) and Jason Alfaro (.273) had two hits apiece to lead the offense.

Class AA Akron (70-43) was not scheduled.

Class A Kinston (24-19, 47-23) rolled to a 10-2 win at Myrtle Beach. Ryan Knippschild (5-3, 3.547 ERA) gave up only one hit over four scoreless innings, striking out three. Starter Mariano Gomez (3.18) allowed two unearned runs over four innings. Randy Newsom (3.83) worked a scoreless ninth. Rodney Choy Foo (.287) and Javier Herrera (.373) each had three of Kinston's 13 hits. Jordan Brown (.281) had three RBI.

Class A Lake County (24-18, 29-41) split a doubleheader at Augusta. The Captains lost the first game in extra innings, 4-3, giving up a run in the bottom of the eighth. Matt Loberg (3-4, 4.64 ERA) allowed one run over 1 1/3 innings and was the loser. Albert Vargas (4.19) gave up three runs over the first six innings. Chris Gimenez (.272), Mike Butia (.295) and Max Ramirez (.288) all had two hits and an RBI.

In the second game, Jeff Stevens (6-1, 3.59 ERA) allowed only two hits over six innings in a 1-0 win. He walked one and struck out seven. Matt Davis (3.44) fanned one in a perfect ninth for his 25th save. Ramirez had one hit and scored on a fourth-inning single by Mike Conroy (.225).

Class A Mahoning Valley (26-20) lost at State College, 9-4. Josh Roberts (.204) went 3-for-4 with four RBI and Jason Denham (.316) was 3-for-5 to lead the Scrappers' offense. William Delage (1-5, 6.57 ERA) gave up five runs over 3 1/3 innings, Jorge Riera (1.54) allowed two runs over three innings and Daniel Miltenberger (5.16) yielded two runs over 1 2/3 innings.

Rookie League Burlington (24-21) got only three hits in a 3-0 loss at Johnson City. Mike Storey (2-4, 4.29 ERA) allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings. Scott Sumner (2.70) pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings and Brett Andrade (3.57) one scoreless inning.

GCL Indians (18-21) lost to the visiting GCL Tigers, 13-6. Jay Nilsson (.289) hit a three-run homer, his second, while Roman Pena (.310) and Luis Rincon (.279) each had three hits and Carlos Rivero (.294) and Cristo Arnal (.231) had two apiece. Hector Rondon (2-3, 4.43 ERA) allowed four runs over four innings, Chris De La Cruz (9.53) walked three and gave up two runs over two-thirds of an inning, Julio Bolivar (4.76) yielded one unearned run over 2 1/3 innings and Matt Robinson (3.81) gave up six runs over the final two innings.

TODAY'S FARM SYSTEM THREE STARS (HITTING)

PLAYER	TEAM	AB	H	HR	R	RBI	SB	BB	SO
1. J. Roberts	Mahoning Valley	4	3	0	0	4	0	0	1
2. R. Choy Foo	Kinston	5	3	0	2	1	1	0	1
3. M. Ramirez	Lake County	7	3	0	1	1	0	0	1

TODAY'S FARM SYSTEM THREE STARS (PITCHING)

PLAYER	Team	W	L	SV	IP	ER	H	BB	SO
1. J. Stevens	Lake County	1	0	0	6.0	0	2	1	7
2. R. Knippschild	Kinston	1	0	0	4.0	0	1	0	3
3. S. Sumner	Burlington	0	0	0	2.2	0	0	1	1