"Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner began his rehab assignment by going 1-for-2 with a walk as the Class AA Akron Aeros lost, 7-2, to New Hampshire Tuesday night at Canal Park.

Hafner was hitting .345 in 32 games for the Tribe when he strained his right oblique during batting practice in Chicago on May 18. He was placed on the disabled list May 20.

Hafner led off the second inning with a walk against right-hander Joel Carreno. After Carreno threw two balls, Hafner took a called strike. After another ball, Hafner lined a pitch foul down the left side. Carreno's full-count pitch narrowly missed off the outside corner -- atleast according to Hafner and plate umpire Andy Dudones.

Hafner eventually scored on a two-out single by Jason Donald.

Hafner led off the fourth with a single on a 1-1 pitch. The single was Hafner's first hit for the Aeros in a regular-season game. Entering this year, he was 0-for-9 with a walk during rehab assignments for Akron in the regular season (three games in 2005). During the Akron postseason in 2008, Hafner hit a grand slam while on rehab. "