If it’s better to be lucky than good, than Randy Newsom is the poster child for the old adage.

Forget about the Aeros closer’s league-high tying 15 saves. The way things have gone lately, Newsom can’t even mess up a save without getting something positive out if it.

After notching 13 consecutive saves to open the season, Newsom has blown two of his last four opportunities.

Yet instead of exiting the game frustrated each time, Newsom has left with an ear-to-ear smile after earning the win in both games to improve to 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA in 24 appearances.

Newsom’s first blown save came on May 26th, when he was handed a 3-2 lead in the ninth but allowed visiting Erie to tie the score. But in the bottom of the inning, a Nate Panther double into the right field corner scored Chris Gimenez to hand the Aeros a 4-3 win.

After a pair of saves in Harrisburg earlier in the week, the Aeros were back at Canal Park Saturday when Newsom was handed a 4-3 lead in the ninth before visiting Bowie knotted the score. But with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Aeros newcomer Bronson Sardinha drove in the winning run and once again Newsom was listed as the game’s winner.

Newsom’s streak of luck began on April 26 when he entered a game against Harrisburg in top of 10th of a 1-1 tie game. Newsom held the Senators pat, and in the bottom of the frame Matt Whitney’s two-out RBI-double handed Newsom his first win to set Newsom’s lucky trend.

“I know there’s been some struggles recently, but Randy’s been incredible for us,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “I can’t say enough about what he does for us to close the door at the end of games.”

He was looking for a change of scenery, a different baseball organization to take a look at what he could do.

What outfielder Bronson Sardinha has gotten instead is released, unemployed and now, sent back to Double-A.

When Sardinha figured a little change would do him some good, he didn’t mean playing for three different teams at two minor league levels in a matter of two months.

Yet, that is how the New Yankees’ former first-round pick (34th overall in the 2001 draft) ended up in Akron Friday as his newest team opened a weekend series with division-foe Bowie.

“It’s not been a good year,” said the Aeros new right fielder, who finally made his major-league debut in pinstripes last year, batting .333 (3-for-9) in 10 games. “Nothing has gone the way I planned.”

It all began with the gutsy decision to leave the safety net of the Yankees, for whom Sardinha initially began as a strong-armed shortstop before being moved to the outfield.

“One of their main priorities was to get me signed in the off season,” Sardinha, 25, said. “But they had to take me of the 40-man roster for Andy Pettit. But they said they still wanted me, and offered me a pretty good contract. But at the last minute, I decided to go for a change.”

But his first stop at Seattle’s Triple-A Tacoma club didn’t last long, despite Sardinha batting .323 (10-for-31) in seven games. He admits what got him released was his own fault, even if he’s not willing to share the details.

“It was something off the field,” Sardinha said. “A silly mistake on my part.”

After a three-week unwelcomed vacation in Fresno, Ca., (where the Rainiers had been playing when he was suddenly released), the Indians signed Sardinha and sent him to Triple-A Buffalo.

But that stint was also short - 10 games - in which he batted .300 (9-for-30) with two home runs and five RBI before being demoted to Double-A Akron earlier this week.

“I was getting some playing time (in Buffalo), but they had so many outfielders, especially with (Shin-Soo) Choo there on rehab,” Sardinha said. “When they called me in, I’d had a real good game the day before and actually thought maybe they were going to call me up (to Cleveland). I wasn’t expecting coming down here.”

Sardinha’s first thought was that he should just ask for his release. But having just played that waiting game, he reconsidered.

“I like the Indians organization,” said Sardinha, who is batting .143 (2-for-14) with three RBI in three games for the Aeros. “They seem like real good people who care about their players. They advised me not to ask for my release, and told me I’m in a good situation. I just need to relax, get my at-bats and you never know what can happen.”

It’s often taken for granted that when a Latin player comes to the states to play baseball, he will quickly pick up English. Little thought is given to just how difficult it is, in addition to making the transition to a completely different culture.

California native and Aeros second baseman Brandon Pinckney had the tables turned on him recently, getting a little taste of what it has been like for many of his foreign teammates over the years.

Starting the season in Winter Haven, Fla., at the Indians extended spring training camp, Pinckney found himself the lone English-speaking infielder in his group. Not to mention a 28-year-old veteran among a group of young and impressionable first and second-year players.

“I wasn’t happy about it being there in the first place,” said Pinckney, a six-year veteran drafted by the Tribe with their 12th pick in the 2003 draft. “On top of it I was one of the only American infielders. So everything went from Spanish to English - being translated just for me.”

If that wasn’t a tough enough way to begin the season, when Pinckney was finally placed with a club - landing in Akron in mid-April when left fielder Trevor Crowe went on the disabled list with a lower back injury - he played sporadically in a reserve role.

“When I first got here I was playing once every fifth day,” Pinckney said. “So it took some time getting my timing down.”

Pinckney worked with former teammate and current Aeros player/coach Shaun Larkin on his batting until Pinckney found his groove at the plate. Once things clicked, Pinckney went on a tear.

He pieced together a 13-game hitting streak that lasted through Friday, batting .370 (17-for-46) over that span. In 19 games with the Aeros this season he’s hitting .271 (19-for-70) with two doubles and six RBI.

“It was a good stretch for Pink,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “We’ll give him a little break then get him right back out there.”

No official word yet, but based on the results and some candid thoughts after his outing with the Aeros Friday, Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook appears to be ready to be activated.

While on a major league rehab assisgnment with the Aeros Friday, Westbrook pitched six shutout innings, scattering three hits to help lead the Aeros to a 4-0 shutout over the Erie SeaWolves. The only concern he had was with his command, which was a little off as shown by issuing four walks.

Still, after his outing, Westbrook talked about being ready to re-join his big league teammates.

“I felt good about my side, I felt good about my arm,” Westbrook said. “I think I’m ready to come back when they’re ready for me.”

Indians closer Joe Borowski said the same thing after his one sharp inning for the Aeros Wednesday with Tribe GM Mark Shapiro watching in person. He was activated Friday morning.

Now, Westbrook is next. Although I’d hate to be the Tribe officials who have to tell Aaron Laffey and his 1.60 ERA he has to go back to Triple-A Buffalo.

“He’s been real impressive,” Westbrook said. “He pitched well for us last year, too.”

Hopefully, it won’t be long before Laffey’s in the Indians rotation full time. But until then, Westbrook’s ready to claim his spot.

Few people really appreciated him when he was healthy. Now that’s he’s been gone for nearly a month, those same folks can’t wait until he returns.

Guess it’s like the old adage - you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

That’s the case with Indians fans and embattled closer Joe Borowski - a guy who admittedly makes it tough to watch - but ultimately tends to get the job done in the ninth.

How he does it is a whole other matter, which is why the veteran tends to make cause a lot of uneasy stomachs as he tight-rope walks through each and every save situation.

Of course, it wasn’t that difficult Wednesday for Borowski in his one-inning major league rehab appearance with the Aeros in their 4-1 victory over Altoona Wednesday at Canal Park.

The Aeros defense was on their toes with the veteran big leaguer on the mound in the eighth inning.

Shortstop Josh Rodriguez sprinted out to shallow center to catch Luis Cruz’s pop up for the first out, then right fielder Stephen Head made a diving catch to rob former Indians minor leaguer Brian Finegan of a hit for the second.

Curve catcher Milver Reyes managed a little two-out flare into shallow right center field for a base hit before Borowski bounced back to get Pedro Powell looking to end the brief outing.

Afterwards, a pumped up Borowski said he felt good, then shook hands with Indians general manager Mark Shaprio - who wanted to check on his closer in person before the decision is made in the next day or two whether or not to activate Borowski.

“This more than likely will be it,” Borowksi said. “Anything could happen, but hopefully that’s not the case and I can get back (to Cleveland).”

Although Borowski didn’t bother to check how high his velocity registered, he felt it was within range based on the feel of the ball coming out of his hand.

“More than anything, I’m looking for location,” said Borowski, who went on the disabled list April 15th with a strained right triceps - an injury he suffered in spring training but tried to pitch through.

“This is my second time throwing to hitters (his first outing was Monday at Class-A Lake County). Each time you throw your muscles become memory again and you get that free and easy feeling. I felt a big improvement just from the other day.”

Borowski led the American League in saves last year, converting 45 of 53 save opportunities (84.9%), finishing just one shy of tying Jose Mesa’s club record of 46 set in 1995.

Wednesday, his short stint came on the heels of a strong seven-inning start by left-hander David Huff, who limited the Curve to a run on four hits.

“Last year he wasn’t as sharp as he has been here,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said of the left-hander. “He’s learned how to use his stuff more effectively to get more early contact, which has allowed him to go deeper in games.”

–30–

The hand-made poster was a poor-man’s version of the original, a take off the gigantic LeBron James’ black-and-white that hangs in downtown Cleveland unfurled across the side of a large building.

Yet, athletic-taped to the wall in the Aeros dugout was an 8-by-10 color picture of Trevor Crowe, with these words crudely scrawled upon it for all to see: The Real King of the A.K.! We are all witnesses.

And so the Aeros popular left fielder returned home Monday as the Aeros began an eight-game home stand, suiting up for the first time since having to sit out with a lower back injury after playing in just the team’s first two games of the season in early April.

“The last week of spring training it was sore, but I thought it was just a normal kind of soreness and stiffness,” said Crowe, the Indians No. 1 pick (14th overall) in the 2005 draft. “But the red flag to me was once I started experiencing shooting pain down the back of my leg almost to my knee. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right.”

So Crowe went on the disabled list then spent two and half weeks rehabbing the back in Cleveland with the Indians trainers. Before he could return to the Aeros, he spent a couple more weeks at extended spring training in Winter Haven, Fla., where he eased back into the game.

That’s when the hardest part of being away from his teammates hit Crowe, who is batting .214 (3-for-14) with a double, triple, RBI and four walks in four games this season.

“Every time you’re sitting in your hotel room and it’s 7 p.m., you get the feeling that you should be out there on the field,” he said.

Crowe played in two games on the Aeros recent road trip to Reading, meeting the team bus as it arrived in town Friday with a surprise for his teammates.

“I was just so happy to see everyone, I said, ‘Hug for everybody!’,” the spunky Crowe said with a smile. “Right now, I’m probably the happiest kid in the lockerrooom.”

Aeros left-hander David Huff earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors Monday, a nod to his standout performance last week against Altoona. Last Thursday’s outing was a seven-inning complete-game shutout in which he allowed just one runner to advance to second base in allowing just three hits and a walk. Huff is 3-1 on the season and leads the league with a 2.14 ERA and ranks seventh in strikeouts with 43.

BIG LEAGUE - Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson is expected to join the Curve today and play the remainder of the series in Akron. Wilson has been on the major league disabled list since April 4th with a torn muscle in his left calf.

HOT PINCKNEY - Aeros infielder Brandon Pinckney entered Monday’s game with Altoona riding a season-high tying nine-game hitting streak. Over that span he has struck out just three times and is batting .375 (12-for-32) with three multi-hit games to raise his season batting average from .095 to 264.

The Aeros haven’t played a ballgame in four days now. Well, four days and counting.

After being rained out at home Sunday and enjoying a scheduled off day Monday, the team headed for Altoona (Pittsburgh Pirates) Tuesday morning well rested and ready to get back at it.

But the Aeros have been there now two days and still have yet to play an inning.

This wouldn’t be odd given the time of the year, except for the fact that it’s not weather keeping the action from happening.

Although it hasn’t rained in Altoona since the team has been in town, it rained over the weekend before they got there. And appearantly for some odd reason, the field was not covered with its tarp - which is why it has been deemed unplayable the last two days.

So, the Aeros continue to sit in their hotel rooms searching for ways to entertain themselves. In the meantime, a 10:35 a.m. double header is scheduled for Thursday - on get-a-way day, no less.

In addition to leaving the guys a little grumpy, all the time off is wreaking havoc on the team’s starting pitching staff. A day off here and there is usually a welcome surprise. But four consecutive days off is a nightmare for a young staff that was just starting to get some things figured after thier first month of exposure to Double-A hitting.

The pitchers are so backed up in the rotation now, PR man extraordinaire Rob Sinclair doesn’t have the foggiest idea who to even list for starting probables - because at this point, it’s anyone’s guess.

Longevity records in Double-A baseball aren’t usually much cause for celebration.

For, racking up numbers in the mid-level of baseball often indicates a player is staying in one place too long.

But becoming the Aeros career saves leader earlier this week didn’t bother Aeros closer Randy Newsom one bit.

“Actually, I think it’s pretty cool,” said Newsom, who set the franchise mark of 25 saves in the Aeros 3-2 win over rival Altoona Wednesday. “Having your name in the record book for something positive has to be considered an honor.”

It helps that Newsom has climbed to the top of the charts in less than a full season with the Aeros - beginning last year when he joined the team after a promotion from high Class-A Kinston.

The 26-year old recorded 18 saves for Akron in his debut, helping lead the team to the Eastern League Championship Series.

This year Newsom began the season with the Aeros, and has gone a perfect nine-for-nine in save opportunities. His most recent secured Saturday’s 3-1 win over Northern-Division leading Trenton, as he moved into sole possession of second place in saves in the Eastern League behind Bowie’s Julio Manon (10).

Part of the reason Newsom has managed to achieve the high-water mark so quickly is that the parent-club Indians don’t necessarily groom relievers to be closers in the major leagues. Often, closing at the minor leagues falls to a couple guys at one time.

But being a side-arming right-hander who pitches to contact is most effective in short outings, thus a closing role is a good match for the Cincinnati native who graduated from Tufts.

“Saves are a team thing,” said Newsom, who is 1-0 with a tidy 1.32 ERA in 14 appearances. “I don’t think people realize that, but they really are - especially when you’ve got a contact guy like me on the mound. I couldn’t do what I do without a solid group behind me.”

Now entering his fifth pro season, Newsom was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent. In 2006, he became property of the Cleveland Indians as the player to be named later in the Coco Crisp deal.

“Randy has been nothing but outstanding since he’s been with us,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “Aside from doing his thing on the mound, he’s just a great guy to have in the clubhouse helping lead this team.”

Newsom’s positive and upbeat attitude seems to rub off on everyone he comes in contact with. In addition to being a team leader by action, he’s also a calming influence on this season’s predominantly young club that has already had its share of struggles this season.

“We’ll come around,” he said. “We’re young, but we’re also too talented of a team to struggle like this all season.”

Unfortunately for the Aeros, just as the team’s young starting pitchers appear to be finding their groove, the team’s offense has gone into hibernation. In their the last four games entering Saturday, the Aeros have managed just six runs.

“Mark my words, things will turn around,” Newsom said. “I can tell by the way guys are reacting, the way guys play. When something bad happens, they don’t go, ‘Here we go again.’ They just go and get after it.

There’s usually not a whole lot of action in a 1-0 game, but Thursday’s early-morning one-run Aeros win over visiting Altoona was a thriller in many ways.

Let’s start with right-handed starter Frank Herrmann, who tossed a season-high seven innings while limiting the free-swinging Curve to two harmless hits thanks to an above-average slider.

“With my slider working so well, I only threw one or two change ups today,” Herrmann (4-2, 3.54 ERA) said. “And usually my change up is my best secondary pitch. But I stayed aggressive and kept after them.”

Aeros first-year manager Mike Sarbaugh said Herrmann had some momentum coming into the game in following two solid starts the previous two games by left-handers Chuck Lofgren and David Huff.

“Just like hitting’s contagious, starters see what they guys before them did and it gives them confidence they can do it too,” Sarbaugh said. “It’s like, “They’re doing it, so I’m going to do it.’ ”

While Herrmann was methodically mowing through the Aeros’ division rivals, back-up catcher Armando Camacaro drove in the game’s only run with a second-inning two-out single that capped a three-hit rally.

“You gotta love a guy like that who sits for four, five games but then comes in and gets the big hit and makes a great defensive play to lead us to a win,” closer Randy Newsom said.

But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here. First, right-hander reliever J.D. Martin did his job via a three-up, three-down eighth inning as set-up man to Newsom, who had just become Akron’s all-time franchise saves leader with his 25th earned in Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory.

But Thursday, Newsom had a huge assist in recording his eighth save in as many opportunities so far this season. As the save - and the win - did not come without some heroics from right fielder Ryan Goleski, who wasn’t even initially in the starting lineup until a late scratch forced him into action.

In addition to going 2-for-3, Goleski made a pair of highlight-reel catches in the field, with none better this season than his laser from medium right field that threw out the potential tying run (Brad Corley) with two outs.

Goleski’s on-the-money throw made it to Camacaro a few feet up the third base line. The veteran catcher turned and held his position to block the path to the plate all the while holding on to the ball for the huge out despite a collision that left him with a sore left leg.