Aeros report

Catcher's script followed so far

Aeros gain split on road to begin playoff series

PORTLAND, MAINE - By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

Javi Herrera said it a few days ago, at a time when the Aeros catcher
could have easily been wrapped up in the moment.

The Aeros were in the midst of celebrating their Southern Division
Series win over the Altoona Curve last Sunday night when Herrera had
the presence of mind to think ahead to the pending Eastern League
Championship round against the Portland Sea Dogs.

``With a team like that, especially at their place, we have to come
away with a split,'' he said. ``Anything more than that is great. But
we at least have to split.''

That's exactly what the Aeros did in the first two games at Hadlock
Field. After dropping the opener on Tuesday night 6-4, the Aeros came
back to win the second game Wednesday 4-3.

The teams had Thursday off for traveling, with the best-of-five series
resuming at 7:05 tonight at Canal Park.

``The way these two games have gone (constant back-and-forth), that's
just playoff and championship style of baseball,'' Aeros manager Torey
Lovullo said. ``I expect it to continue to be a dogfight the rest of
the way.''

Tonight's Game 3 pits Aeros right-hander Brian Slocum (7-5, 4.40 ERA)
against Sea Dogs' on-loan right-hander Wade Miller. Miller, a Boston
Red Sox starter, will be making his second rehab appearance since
joining Portland while recovering from right shoulder stiffness.

In his first start in the Northern Division Series against Trenton,
Miller lasted just 2 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on two
hits and three walks, while striking out three.

Aeros pitching coach Greg Hibbard is expecting a big game from Slocum,
who wasn't as sharp as he hoped in his previous start in the division
series after coming off the disabled list (blister on finger).

``Hopefully, he'll have a better feel for his release point,'' Hibbard
said.

Hibbard has asked his staff to pay close attention to one thing in
particular.

``The home run ball is what we have to eliminate,'' he said.

In seven playoff games, the Aeros have allowed 11 home runs,
accounting for 18 of the 33 runs given up.

During the regular season, Aeros pitchers allowed the fewest home runs
in the league, giving up 94.

Glad to be home

No doubt the Aeros pitchers are glad to be headed home to Canal Park
after tip-toeing through two games at Portland's cozy Hadlock Field:

``It's a tough park when the ball is hit well,'' Aeros ace and Game 1
starter Jeremy Sowers said. ``I definitely had some close calls.''

Sowers took the loss Tuesday after struggling right out of the gate.
He gave up a pair of home runs and three long flyouts to the first
five batters.

Learning curve

Unlike Sowers, the Aeros' Game 2 starter Rafael Perez hung on for the
win Wednesday after a tough start.

``He can quickly lose faith in his fastball if he leaves it up a bit
early in the game,'' Hibbard said. ``And because he sees so much
results with his go-to-pitch (slider), he tends to fall in love with it.''

Perez threw 100 pitches Wednesday, 45 of them sliders.

``Ideally, we'd like to see 35-38 sliders over that span,'' Hibbard said.

Tickets

Tickets for the remaining games have been reduced to $5, with half of
the proceeds going to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.