Reliever Reid Santos has been struggling with his command since coming down to the Aeros June 3 from Triple-A Buffalo, owning a 4.41 ERA in 17 appearances. In 34 2/3 innings he has given up 17 runs on 35 hits with an uncharacteristic 11 walks.

But Santos may have turned the corner in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Erie. Looking more like the dominant set-up man he was for the Aeros in 2007, the lefty struck out the first five of six batters he faced to earn his first win since May 7th of last year.

“(Pitching coach) Tony (Arnold ) and I have been trying to tell Reid he has to establish his fastball,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “When he has a good fastball in the zone like he did (Thursday), then they have to start cheating and that change up becomes more effective.”

Former Aeros outfielder Trevor Crowe finally stayed healthy enough to earn a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo last week, and he’s not letting it get away from him. After going hitless in his first game, the switch-hitting leadoff man has hits in his last four games, including going 3-for-5 with his second Bisons home run on Tuesday. That’s two home runs in just five games.

I’ve purposely waited a few days to write about Matt LaPorta, the hotshot slugger obtained as the center piece in the C.C. Sabathia trade.

Everyone else can hurry up and go on record to gush about him, but I just wanted to see him play first, a couple of games at least. It’s only been three, but I feel a little better about weighing in. I fell even better about it in a week or two. Until then…

Stop right there. No, LaPorta did not blast a bunch of home runs like everyone is dying for him to do.

However, the Brewers No. 1 pick (seventh overall) in the 2007 draft is 5-for-11 with a .455 average for the Aeros - all five hits being singles through the left (pull) side of the infield.

No doubt some home runs will come. Though I suspect the 20 he launched in the Southern League during the first half of the season won’t be matched here in the more pitcher-dominated Eastern League.

Yet, if all fans are waiting for is for LaPorta to hit some jacks, they’re missing the point.

The true character of the 23-year-old came in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 10-9 come-from-behind win over division-rival Bowie - and it had nothing to do with a bat.

With LaPorta on first base after a single, Wes Hodges drove a double deep to the left field corner and Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh didn’t think twice about sending LaPorta, despite the fact that LaPorta might not beat Indians first baseman Ryan Garko in a foot race.

Between LaPorta’s (lack of) speed and an on-the-money throw from Bowie’s veteran left fielder Lou Montanez to rookie catcher Matt Wieters, LaPorta was a dead duck at the plate. But instead of assuming defeat, LaPorta bulldozed Wieters like a linebacker without pads.

Somehow Wieters held on to the ball. But after getting to his feet, the catcher took a few moments to compose himself, more than a wee bit woozy.

Meanwhile, LaPorta quickly gathered himself from the ground and headed for the dugout obviously upset he hadn’t succeeded in knocking the ball loose nor severing Wieters’ head from the rest of his body.

After the come-from-behind victory that felt so much like a playoff game, LaPorta shrugged off the play like it was an every day occurrence.

Something tells me he’s gonna fit right in here in Akron. And maybe he’ll a little, too.

Randy Newsom didn’t have much time to celebrate being one of four Aeros players named Wednesday to the Eastern League All-Star Game. Not long after hearing the All-Star news, Newsom (5-0, 1.75 ERA) also learned he had been promoted to Triple-A Buffalo.

Between the two bits of exciting news, Wednesday quickly turned into a cause for celebration for the underdog Newsom. He was once a relatively unknown side-armer who was acquired by the Indians as the player to be named later in the 2006 trade that sent outfielder Coco Crisp and pitcher David Riske to Boston and brought third baseman Andy Marte and catcher Kelly Shoppach to Cleveland.

Two years later, Newsom has become an Aeros fan favorite, always the last guy to always to leave the home dugout after signing every autograph request following games at Canal Park. If not for the “untimely” call up, Newsom would have been making his second appearance on the Southern Division team in as many years - and rightfully so.

The Aeros closer recorded 24 saves in 26 opportunities, including converting his last nine chances. A dominating and lengthy stretch came April 8th through June 26th when the Tufts University graduate allowed just two earned runs spanning 33 innings, including 15 consecutive scoreless appearances from April 23rd to May 25th.

In addition to Newsom, Aeros third baseman Wes Hodges, right-handed reliever J.D. Martin and rookie shortstop Josh Rodriguez were also tabbed to play in the All-Star Game that will be held Manchester, N.H., July 16th. Joining the players on the team will be Sarbaugh and the rest of the Aeros staff courtesy of being the defending Southern Division champions.

The E.L. All-Star nod marks the second consecutive for Hodges, who played in the Class-A Carolina League post-season All-Star team last year. This season - just his second full professional year after being drafted by the Tribe with their second pick in the 2006 draft out of Georgia Tech – he has been Akron’s most consistent hitter - batting clean-up, no less.

Through 81 games, Hodges is batting .307 (93-for-303) and leads the league with 64 RBI. If he stays in Akron a full season as the Indians brass initially planned, Hodges is on pace to drive in 112 RBI - which would shatter the single-season franchise record.

The injury-tested Martin will be making his first All-Star appearance since the 2001 season when he appeared on the short-season Appalachian League post-season All-Star team. Having pitched primarily in relief for the Aeros in this, his third stint with the team while battling arm injuries over the years, Martin is 7-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 appearances (including three spot starts).

In Martin’s last seven appearances, the Tribe’s sandwich selection (35th overall) in the 2001 draft has not allowed an earned run spanning 15.1 innings. Over that span he is 3-0 and has allowed just eight hits and four walks.

Rodriguez’s selection also marks his second All-Star nod, as he joined Hodges on the Carolina League post-season All-Star team last year. Batting second for the Aeros this season, the Indians second–round pick out Rice University is hitting .269 (83-for-309) with 13 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 37 RBI and seven stolen bases. Additionally, his 53 walks rank second in the league and his 51 runs scored are fourth.

MORE ON HODGES: In addition to being named to Eastern League All-Star Team, third baseman Wes Hodges is also scheduled to participate in the prestigious Futures Game as part of major league baseball’s All-Star Game festivities July 13 at Yankee Stadium.

Selected to play for Team USA, Hodges is also one of 60 players currently being considered for the 24-man United States Olympic Team that will be selected on July 16th to participate in China’s Beijing Olympics beginning August 9th.

In 82 games with the Aeros this season, Hoges is batting .307 (94-for-306) with 15 doubles, nine home runs and a league-leading 64 RBI.

ROSTER MOVES - With Newsom’s promotion to Buffalo Wednesday, right-handed reliever Scott Roehl has been selected to take Newsom’s place on the Southern Division team. In 22 appearances this season with Akron, Roehl is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 33 innings.

In other team news, outfielder Jose Costanza was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a strained left shoulder. In 74 games with the Aeros he’s battting .293 (77-for-263) with four triples, nine doubles, 15 stolen bases, 23 walks, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored. The Aeros have not made a corresponding move to replace Costanza, but outfielder Nate Panther (strained left calf) is able to be activated from the DL today. Newsom’s spot on the team’s 24-man roster has yet to be filled as well, leaving the team two players under the limit.