Fausto Carmona continued his minor-league comeback tour Saturday, throwing 66 pitches (47 for strikes) in five innings for the Aeros in their 7-2 victory over the Erie SeaWolves at Canal Park.

Carmona's line probably looks a bit alarming at first glance. The Indians' rehabbing right-hander allowed nine hits. But with the aid of three doubles plays behind him, Carmona allowed just one run, walked none and struck out two to earn the victory.

''I feel good and [my] hip feels normal,'' Carmona said through translator Laurie Arnold. ''There were a couple hits, but I'm not worried about that. I just made a couple mistakes.''

Once the 24-year old completed his required five innings on the mound, he finished his remaining work (14 pitches) in the bullpen. Afterward, he declared himself prepared to rejoin his major-league teammates.

''I'm ready to pitch in the big leagues,'' Carmona said. ''But I don't know if they want me to make one more rehab start. They'll tell me tomorrow.''

Carmona last donned the Aeros' purple in 2005, when he began the season in Akron, going 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 14 starts before earning a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder ended up getting a September call-up with the Indians that season, but did not make his major-league debut until 2006.

Now established as the Tribe's No. 2 starter, Carmona had gone 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 10 starts with the Indians before being sidelined May 24 with a left hip strain.

A month and a half later, he began his comeback with a four-inning stint last week at Lake County, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

With his patented sinker working Saturday, Carmona picked up right where he left off. Despite the nine hits — eight singles and a first-inning double — the Aeros' defense turned double plays in the first, second and fifth innings to keep Carmona out of trouble.

The Aeros' offense did the rest. Matt LaPorta's sacrifice fly in the first inning put the Aeros on the board. Catcher Wyatt Toregas sparked a four-run fourth with a two-run home run that handed Carmona a comfortable 5-0 lead.

The SeaWolves finally broke through against Carmona in the fifth, when Casper Wells' RBI-single capped a four-hit rally.

In addition to a bump in advance sales that resulted in 6,056 fans coming out to watch Carmona, players in the SeaWolves' dugout paid rapt attention to him, as well. As the game started, the SeaWolves were glued to the dugout railing watching him intently instead of sitting back on the bench, as the players usually do.

LaPorta back in fold

To say it's been a busy couple of weeks for Matt LaPorta, the Aeros' new left fielder, is an understatement. LaPorta, the centerpiece of the C.C. Sabathia trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, rejoined the Aeros in time for Saturday's game.

This after the 23-year old was traded, played in the Futures Game, was named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and spent the past few days with his family grieving the death of his grandfather.

''It's been a whirlwind for him,'' Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said.

''It'll be nice when things settle down for him and he can get back into somewhat of a normal baseball routine.''