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By Gary Eastwick / Special to MLB.com

Grady Sizemore homered for Akron in Friday night's victory. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Because during the regular season, the Akron Aeros left fielder hit just .223. Even though he had 10 home runs and 44 RBIs, Minges had a season in which he struggled for consistency.

But all of those struggles seemed like decades ago now, as his hot streak at the plate during postseason continued Friday night. His timely hitting helped the Aeros complete a three-game sweep of the New Haven Ravens and earn the franchise's first Eastern League title.

In the fourth, Minges hit a three-run homer that was part of a four-run inning. After that, the Aeros never gave up the lead, beating New Haven, 11-4, in front of 8,781 fans at Canal Park.

"This is absolutely numbing," said Minges, who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. "This is the biggest team effort that I've ever been a part of."

His homer was one of five that the Aeros hit in their title-clinching win. It also continued the red-hot hitting that Minges displayed throughout the postseason. His average during the playoffs was .482 (14-for-29).

"He got hot," Aeros coach Mike Sarbaugh said. "He had some big hits all the way through. He played inspired. He played playoff baseball."

On this night, Minges was the offensive light for the Aeros, who started things off in the second inning. He gave Akron its first score with a RBI single to center field.

After New Haven tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth, Minges slammed his three-run home run over the right-field wall, which gave the Aeros a 5-2 lead.

Moments later, teammate Luis Gonzalez followed with a solo homer. Hector Luna, Grady Sizemore and Greg LaRocca also hit home runs.

For Minges, he said his swing finally "clicked" two days before the end of the regular season. He entered the zone, and he stayed there through the playoffs. "It's so hard to explain," he said of his minor change in his swing.

Minor to him, but to the Aeros, that change meant so much.

While Minges and Co. kept New Haven pitchers struggling, the Aeros pitching staff was able to get by without starter Paul Rigdon, who left the ballgame in the fourth with an injury.

As Rigdon covered home on the two-run single he gave up in the fourth, he slipped, fell on his elbow and hurt his right shoulder.

Before leaving the game, he gave up two hits and two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Kenny Rayborn stepped in for Rigdon, ending the inning by striking out Tyrell Godwin.

Rayborn was not so lucky in the fifth. He retired his first two batters before giving up Dominic Rich's two-run homer.

But after Rich's homer, Akron pitching staff did not allow anymore runs. Everyone did his part.

"We knew Rayborn was perfect for us," Sarbaugh said. "He gave us a lot of length. He threw the ball well. He made one mistake, but he came right back."

But Minges and his hot bat made Rayborn's job a bit easier.

"We won as a team," Minges said. "This is the greatest feeling ever."

Aeros note: The Indians will celebrate the Aeros' championship in a pre-game ceremony Saturday at Jacobs Field.

Gary Eastwick is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.