After practically crawling into the playoffs, the Aeros have come up with one heck of a turnaround the last two weeks in finshing the last week of the regular season strong and now knocking off Southern-Divison winner Erie 3 games to 1 with an 8-6 win Saturday night at Canal Park.

The Aeros overcame a rough start by starter Bobby Brownlie and a pair of early errors, using three home runs - including a pair of two-run shots by Michael Aubrey - to charge back for the win.

The Aeros have two days off before heading to Trenton for the start of the Championship Series Tuesday in New Jersey - a well deserved rest.

As players sprayed bottles of champaign at each other under the clear plastic tent that was the team’s clubhouse Saturday night, Aeros manager Tim Bogar called the media into his office. After a few quick words about his team’s achievements, he spent some more time talking about how impressed he was with Erie.

A lot of managers will throw comments in like that to sound good.

But it was obvious Bogar meant what he was syaing about how the SeaWolves were the best team the Aeros played all year. He also talked about how impressed he was with Erie Manager Matt Wallbeck. Perhaps Bogar was referring to Wallbeck’s class for not making too big of a deal out of the Indians sending Jeremy Sowers to Akron to pitch a pivitol Game Three.

As unfair as the move may have been, neither Bogar nor Wallbeck had anything to do with it, and both handed it professionally. The message they sent to their respective players was clear: You can’t worry about things out of your control.

After Bowie slugger Luis Jimenez mashed multiple-run home runs in each of the first three games of the series against Bowie this week - compiling 10 RBI along the way - Aeros pitchers continued to pitch to the Baysox first baseman Thursday.

Furthermore, they continued to do so with manager Tim Bogar’s blessing - with the playoffs on the line in needing a win to clinch a wildcard playoff spot.

“To me, Jimenez is a great hitter but he’s pitchable,” Bogar said. “But if you pitch him right, he’s pitchable. I mean, there’s a reason why he’s still in Double-A. The man can hit. I like how he swings the bat and he gives you a quality at-bat every time. But I think our pitchers, when they do what they’re supposed to do, can get him out.”

Well guess what? They didn’t the first three nights of this important series home stand and they didn’t again in Jimenez’s at-bats in the fifth and seventh innings Thursday.

After hitting a three-run home run against Aeros starter Eric DuBose in the series opener Monday, Jimenez smacked another three-run bomb against reliever Michael Finocchi Tuesday. He settled for a two-run homer against starter Bobby Brownlie Wednesday and continued to beat up Akron pitchers when he doubled home two runs to give the Baysox a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning Thursday against starter Shawn Nottingham.

The 6-foot-4 205-pounder from Venezuela managed to leg out a single against reliever Rich Rundles in the seventh, who was the unsung hero of the night for the Aeros in earning the win.

But give the Aeros pitchers some credit. When the game was on the line with two on and two out in the ninth, closer Jim Ed Warden got Jimenez to ground out to short to end the game and vault the Aeros into the playoffs.

Asked what he was thinking when Jimenez strode to the plate in the final at-bat, Bogar admitted: “My first thought was ‘get him out.’ Then I thought, ‘Please don’t make a a mistake and let’s get this guy out for once!’ ”

Warden did just that, his fastball down and away bouncing into the glove of waiting shortstop Brandon Pinckney, who fired to Michael Aubrey at first base for the huge out.

Moments later, the Aeros lockeroom reeked of cheap champagne, as the players celebrated by soaking each other - and Bogar - from head to toe with glee.

Across the hall, Jimenez and his teammates quietly got dressed and then headed outside to the team bus for what promised to be a long seven hour ride home, their season over save for four meaningless games at home against Connecticut.

News out of Canal Park despite the team being on the road has brought yet another handful of changes to the team’s roster.

This time, they are moves that could strengthen the team’s chance to make a post season run, with the exception of the latest Michael Aubrey injury - but more on that in a minute.

First, and perhaps most important, the Aeros received outfielder Brian Barton from Triple-A Buffalo after a two-week stint with the Bisons. Not only will Barton once again bolster the team’s offense, but it will keep the Areos from having to use second baseman Argenis Reyes in left field - where he played Sunday.

The Aeros also received pitchers Rich Rundles and Eric Dubose from Buffalo, while sending reliever T.J. Burton to Class-A Kinston. Rundles, a reliever, has shuttled back and forth between Akron and Buffalo all season. Dubose (4-3, 4.24 ERA in 11 games including eight starts) will join the starting rotation in place of right-hander Jake Dittler, who was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation retroactive to Aug. 6th.

That leaves us with Aubrey. Yes, once again, the Tribe’s often-injured No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft is sidelined - this time with an abdomin strain. At some point, you just figure he’s going to have to run out of body parts to hurt. It just figures, too. After struggling since joining the team from Kinston, Aubrey was just starting to hit last week.