Aeros Eliminated; Indians Keep Rolling On

The Akron Aeros lost to Trenton, 10-5, Saturday night in Game 4 of the Eastern League Championship Series as the Thunder won the title in its first trip to the finals. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals, 6-0, behind superb pitching. Cleveland maintained a 5 1/2 game lead over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central Division.

Cleveland cut its magic number to nine for clinching its first AL Central title since 2001. The Indians, winners of 17 of their last 21, play host to the Royals again on Sunday, then face the second-place Tigers in three games at Jacobs Field beginning Monday night.

Right-hander Fausto Carmona (17-8, 3.07 ERA) gave up only three hits over eight innings, striking out nine, for the Indians. Lefty Rafael Perez (1.41 ERA) struck out all three Royals he faced in the ninth. Carmona retired the last 16 batters he faced.

Travis Hafner (.255) hit his 22nd homer and Casey Blake (.267) drove in two runs to lead Cleveland's offense.

At Akron, Trevor Crowe had three hits, a stolen base and scored a run while Michael Aubrey drove in two runs with two hits, but the Aeros just didn't get enough pitching.

Right-hander Bobby Brownlie gave up three runs in the top of the first to Trenton's Northern Division champions.

The Aeros scored four runs in the third to go ahead, but Brownlie gave the lead right back in the top of the fourth. He allowed six runs over 3 1/3 innings.

Lefty Ryan Edell then gave up two more runs over 1 2/3 innings and Reid Santos yielded another run in the sixth to make it 9-4.

The Aeros were making their fourth appearance in five years in the championship series. Akron was Eastern League champion in 2003 and 2005.

EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GAME 1
Tuesday, September 11
6:05 pm – Waterfront Park, Trenton, N.J.
Trenton Thunder 5, Akron Aeros 3

GAME 2 Wednesday, September 12
6:05 pm – Waterfront Park, Trenton, N.J.
Trenton Thunder 3, Akron Aeros 2

GAME 3
Friday, September 14
7:05 pm – Canal Park, Akron
Akron Aeros 8, Trenton Thunder 2

GAME 4
Saturday, September 15
7:05 pm – Canal Park, Akron
Trenton Thunder 10, Akron Aeros 5
Trenton wins best-of-five series, 3-1