Travis Hafner’s Grand Slam Lifts Aeros

USA - Travis Hafner popped a grand slam and the Akron Aeros beat the Bowie Baysox 6-2 on Friday night in Game 3 of the Southern Division Playoffs to take a 2 to 1 lead in the best-of-five series.

The Aeros touched Bowie starter David Hernandez for a rapid-fire score when leadoff man Josh Rodriguez cracked a triple to center field, and gave Akron a 1-0 lead on Brandon Sardinha’s run-scoring single.

Hernandez retired the first batter to start the second. But, Wyatt Toregas stroked a double before Brandon Chaves flied out for the second out of the inning. Josh Rodriguez followed with a walk and Sardinha reached on an infield hit to third base, scoring Toregas. Matt LaPorta drew a walk to load the bases setting the stage for Hafner’s grand slam over the right-center field fence for a 6-0 lead.

The Baysox starter opened the third with a strikeout but was ejected by first base umpire Mark Buchanan after complaining about the strike zone. Hernandez departed after allowing six runs on five hits in just 2.0 innings on the hill.

The relief corps of Rommie Lewis, Felix Romero, Wilfredo Perez and Gerardo Casadiego kept the Baysox in the game with six scoreless innings. Lewis surrendered two hits in three innings while no other Bowie pitcher allowed a hit for the remainder of the game.

Bowie finally spoiled the shutout with two runs in the top of the eighth. Blake Davis cracked a double to center field before Carlos Rojas slapped an infield single to shortstop, putting runners on the corners. Nolan Reimold delivered a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center field to make the final tally, 6-2.

The Baysox will be looking to extend the series Saturday as Chris Tillman (11-4, 3.18 ERA) will go up against Aeros Frank Herrmann (11-6, 4.10 ERA). Should the Baysox win game four Saturday, the teams will return to Bowie for a decisive Game 5 on Sunday, September 7.

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