Rohlinger goes 4-4 in Aeros win - 19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

Akron's Ryan Rohlinger went 4-4, with a home run and three RBI's Wednesday night, as the Aeros outlasted the Erie SeaWolves, 6-4, at Jerry Uht Park.

Rohlinger fell a triple short of the cycle with his sixth homer, a double and a pair of singles to help the Aeros avoid a three-game sweep.  The victory also lowered Akron's magic number for clinching the EL West title to six.

The Aeros (76-53) will now return home for the final four home games of the regular season in a possible preview of the EL finals against Eastern Division foe Trenton.

On Wednesday, the Aeros took a 1-0 lead in the second when Jesus Aguilar slugged a solo home run to right field off Jared Gayhart (1-4).  It was Aguilar's first home run at the Double-A level, and his 13th combined homer between Akron and Class-A Carolina.

Aguilar struck again in the fourth when he singled home Chun Chen, who had reached with a two-out double.  Rohlinger followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0.

Rohlinger led off the seventh against Erie reliever Rob Waite with a home run to left, his sixth, and his third hit of the night.  It was his first homer since July 23rd at home, also against Erie.

Erie (55-74) scored a pair of unearned runs off Trey Haley in the seventh to pull to within 4-3, but the Aeros got both runs back in the eighth.  Thomas Neal lined a one-out solo shot to left.  Chen followed with a double, and Rohlinger belted a single to left to drive in Chen for his third RBI and his first four-hit game of the season.

Danny Salazar (3-0) started for Akron and again showed the potential that has landed him on the Tribe 40-man roster.  The 22-year-old Salazar worked into the sixth inning, leaving after 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run on six hits.  He walked four and struck out four, and lowered his ERA to 2.45 in his first four Double-A starts.  Salazar left in the sixth with a runner aboard, but reliever Trey Haley struck out two Erie hitters to end the inning.

When Haley allowed a pair of unearned runs, a result of a pair of walks and his own throwing error, righthander Preston Guilmet worked out of a bases loaded jam to preserve a 4-3 lead.  Guilmet then worked the eighth, retiring all five batters he faced.

Shawn Armstrong pitched the ninth, and despite giving up a run, notched his third save.

Chen was 3-3 with two doubles, and raised his average to .322, which is tied for the league batting lead. 

The Aeros will return to Canal Park on Thursday night at 7:05, to begin a four-game set with the Trenton Thunder.  LHP Vidal Nuno (7-5, 2.60) will start for the Thunder, while RHP Brett Brach (3-6, 4.36) will make the start for the Aeros.