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International League News and Notes

July 10, 2008 - International League (IL1) News Release


BUFFALO BISONS

BISONS C.C. A NEW PITCHER: The Cleveland Indians' trade with the Milwaukee Brewers has brought a new arm to the Bisons pitching staff.

LHP Zach Jackson made his Herd debut on Tuesday night and picked up a win with two shutout innings of relief. The southpaw spent most of the 2008 season with Triple-A Nashville of the Pacific Coast League, going 1-5 with a 7.85 ERA in 22 games. Jackson also appeared in two games with the Brewers this year (4.91 ERA, 3.2 IP). Last season, Jackson finished 2nd in the PCL in starts (28) and innings pitched (168.2) and 3rd in strikeouts (123).

CABBY BACK ON THE RIGHT ROAD: INF Asdrubal Cabrera continues to swing a hot bat for the Bisons. Cabrera has hit in eight of his last nine games and enters Thursday following four consecutive multi-hit performances. He's averaged .529 (9-17) over the last four games with a definite increase in power. Cabrera had four doubles and one home run in his first 26 games with the Bisons this year . He has two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in his last four games. Overall, Cabrera has hit .336 (42-125) with three home runs and 11 RBI in 30 games with Buffalo.

JUMPIN' GIMENEZ: C Chris Gimenez has found his comfort level here in his first appearance at the Triple-A level. Gimenez has hit in six of his last eight games, averaging .321 (9-28) with three doubles, a home run and five RBI. Gimenez was one of the best hitters in Double-A before being promoted on June 19. In 55 games with the Akron Aeros, he hit .330 (60-177) with six home runs and 26 RBI. Prior to joining the Herd, he ranked 1st in the Eastern League in on-base percentage (.487) and runs scored (46), 4th in average (.330) and 5th in slugging percentage (.537).

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

SUCCESSFUL REHAB ASSIGNMENT: Chicago White Sox 1B Paul Konerko had a very successful four game rehab assignment with the Knights from July 4-7. Konerko played in all four games, starting three at first base and one as the designated hitter. The Knights went 3-1 in those games and benefited from having Konerko's big bat in the lineup. Konerko went 6-11 (.545) with two doubles, three RBI, three runs scored and six walks. His habit for taking pitches and working deep into the count rubbed off on his Knights teammates as well. The Knights set a season high in walks twice during Konerko's stint.

RECORD CROWD: For the second consecutive year the Knights set a Knights Stadium record crowd on July 4. The Knights hosted 15,591 fans for the team's July 4 game against the Durham Bulls. The Knights previous record was 15,427 on July 4, 2007 vs. Durham. The ten highest-attended games in Knights Stadium history have all occurred on July 4.

THE NEW GUY: C Cole Armstrong has played well for the Knights since coming up from Double-A Birmingham on June 28. Armstrong is currently hitting .531 through 8 games with six doubles and six RBI. He also has been the team's primary catcher with fellow catchers Paul Phillips and Jared Price nursing injuries.

BOURGEOIS LOCKED IN: OF Jason Bourgeois has played outstanding since June 1. Bourgeois has gone 57-140 (.407) with 10 doubles, 5 home runs, 17 RBI and 8 stolen bases. He also has only three errors on the season through 79 games.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS

ROSTER MERRY-GO-ROUND: The Clippers received Leonard Davis from Harrisburg today, the 124th roster move for the Clippers this season. That total is now the 2nd most in team history, trailing 2006's 155 transactions. When Davis plays in his first game, he will be the 57th different player used (30 position players, 27 pitchers) by Columbus this season, seven players off the team record of 64 (26 position players, 38 pitchers) set last season.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: Columbus leads the League in 1-run wins this season, after capturing their 21st victory yesterday. In 1-run games, the Clippers have the best winning percentage in the IL (.656). Of the Clippers' 52 wins, 33 have been decided by 2 runs or less (63%), including 16 of their last 18 wins. Columbus owns the League's best record in games decided by 2 runs or less, going 33-16 (.673). The Clippers are joined by Richmond and Syracuse as the only three teams with winning records in both 1-runs and 2-run games.

HOME RUNS? WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING HOME RUNS: In nine July games the Clippers have gone 7-2 despite hitting only one homer this month. The lack of roundtrippers, coupled with Norfolk's July power surge (9 HR), has put the Clippers and Tides in a tie for the least amount of homers this season. The Clippers' 49 HR is the lowest amount among teams with winning records in Triple-A, 20 behind Syracuse. Including Double-A, only the Trenton Thunder have fewer home runs (46) and a winning record. Columbus is 31-23 (.574) when going homerless as opposed to 21-17 (.552) when going deep.

DURHAM BULLS

TOUGH STRETCH: Durham now has lost five straight games after a 7-5 loss to Norfolk yesterday, Durham's longest such streak of the season. The Bulls also have dropped six of seven, and have been outscored 50-26, with the only win by a 2-1 score.

RARE SWEEP: Durham was swept in a four-game series at home yesterday for the first time since 2001. That season Durham dropped four in a row at the DBAP to Pawtucket, June 2-4. The Bulls did go 0-5 on a home stand in April of last year, but that didn't involve a four-game series. Durham has dropped five straight home games as well.

HOME SWEET HOME?: Durham is now 27-19 (.587) on the road, tops in the IL, but 22-26 at home after dropping 5 straight at the DBAP. The last four were against Norfolk, a team that's 8-1 in the month of July. The Bulls are playing eight straight at home before the break. Durham will start post All-Star break play at Syracuse.

LEAD CUT: Before this losing streak, the Bulls had a season-high 9.0 game lead in the South Division, and were a season-best nine games over .500. In a week, that lead has been reduced to 5.0 games after Charlotte swept a double header last night from Rochester while the Bulls fell to the Tides.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

WE WILL RUN ON YOU: Indianapolis leads the International League with 124 stolen bases. The Indians have paced the IL in thefts in each of the past three seasons (163 in 2007, 180 in 2006 and 163 in 2005). The Tribe has recorded 83 swipes over the last 55 contests (1.51 pg) while its opponents have tallied just 42 (0.76 pg).

LET'S GO STREAKING: Indianapolis OF Nyjer Morgan extended his hitting streak to a season-best 12 games by going 5-8 with four runs and one RBI over the final two games of the Columbus series (July 8-9). The 28-year-old is hitting .333 (18-54) during the stretch with 12 runs and six RBI. The streak is his longest since hitting safely in 21 straight contests for Class-A Lynchburg during the 2006 season.

WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS: OF Nyjer Morgan is batting .349 (15-43) with runners in scoring position this season. He is the only Indian -- with more than 20 at-bats -- to post an average better than .300. As a team, the Tribe ranks last in the International League with a .245 average.

SUCCESS IN THE TWO HOLE: Indianapolis OF Andrew McCutchen went 2-5 with an RBI and two walks while batting second over the final two games of the Columbus series (July 8-9). The 21-year-old owns a .395 BA (30-76) with 12 runs, eight doubles, one homer, seven RBI and 12 walks in just 21 games at the No. 2 position.

A SOLID STRETCH FOR WALKER: Tribe INF Neil Walker is hitting .309 (13-42) with six runs, two doubles, one homer and seven RBI over his last 13 games. The 22-year-old leads the Indians in homers (13), is tied for 1st in runs (51), and places 2nd in RBI (45).

LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS

LES IS MORE: On Sunday, LHP Les Walrond tossed a 9-inning shutout and fanned 17 -- the highest total in both MLB and MiLB in 2008 and since Frederick's David Hernandez struck out 18 Winston-Salem batters in a Carolina League game September 2, 2007. The previous 2008 single-game high for any pitcher, Major or Minor Leagues, was 14 - which was accomplished by Mississippi's Thomas Hanson against Birmingham in a Southern League game June 25. Sunday's masterful strikeout performance was five short of the International League record of 22 set by former Major Leaguer Bob Veale on August 10, 1962 for the Columbus Jets. The performance by Walrond marked the highest strikeout total in the IL in at least the last four seasons (complete records don't go back any further). Previously, from 2005-present, SWB's Cole Hamels held the high with 14 K on April 27, 2006 vs. Norfolk. The only Triple-A pitcher to accomplish this feat in the last four seasons was Sacramento's Dallas Braden, who fanned 17 vs. Colorado Springs on August 27, 2007. The performance also gave the 31-year-old the first nine-inning complete game and shutout in IronPigs history. For the week, the Tulsa native went 2-0, 1.80 ERA (15.0 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 21 K).

WHO'S HOT (BATTERS): OF Brandon Watson has a current team-high 7-G hitting streak (11-28, .393-1-1) and a 6-G run streak (8 R)... INF Mike Cervenak also has a 7-G hit streak (10-31, .323-0-4, 3 2B, 3 R)... SS Mike Rouse has hit in 7 of his last 8 G (13-30, .433-0-3) and in 10 of his last 13 G (20-47, .426-0-5, 6 2B, 7 multi-hit G)... INF Oscar Robles has hit in 6 of his last 8 G (12-30, .400-1-6)... Since returning from injury, OF Rich Thompson has hit in 4 of 6 G (7-20, .350-1-6, 5 R)... 1B Andy Tracy has hit in 24 of his last 33 G (44-113, .389-5-23) raising his AVG by .59 pts... OF Jon Knott has homered in 6 of his last 20 G* (including Thursday's suspended game to be completed July 17) & hit in 21 of last 30 (32-109, .294-5-24, 9 2B)... OF T.J. Bohn has hit in 7 of his last 12 G (12-40, .300-1-3, 6 2B)...C Jason Jaramillo has hit in 29 of his last 34 G (.328-2-17, 41-125, 18 R).

WHO'S HOT (PITCHERS): The bullpen is 2-1, 4 SV, 1.78 (35.1 IP, 7 ER) in the last 11 G... RHP Matt Childers has an 9.1 scoreless IP streak (7+ G,

6 SV, retiring 26 of last 28 BF) & hasn't allowed an ER in last 13 G (1-0, 7 SV in 15.2 IP) and has retired 44 of his last 52 BF (84.6%)... LHP Stephen Randolph has not allowed an ER in his last 5 G (5.0 IP) -- retiring 16 of his last 21 BF (0 H, 5 BB)... LHP Travis Blackley is 4-2, 2.87 (47 IP, 15 ER) in his last 6 GS. In addition, the 'Pigs are 8-2 in the last 10 G he has started -- all after he came of the DL (groin) on May 19... LHP Les Walrond has back-to-back starts (2-0, 1.80, SHO) after an 8-start winless streak.

LOUISVILLE BATS

MACKOWIAK STARTING STRONG: Since being assigned to Louisville June 29, OF Rob Mackowiak is batting .353 (12-34) with a double, a home run, three RBI and 10 runs scored. He has also walked eight times in 10 games and has an OBP of .476. Mackowiak was released by Washington June 7 and signed to a Minor League contract by Cincinnati June 27.

DICKERSON DIALING IT UP: Since June 21, OF Chris Dickerson has hit safely in 14 of 19 games (.300, 21-70) with 15 runs scored, four doubles, one triple, three home runs and 11 RBI during that time. Dickerson was also recognized in the Louisville Courier-Journal yesterday for his push to help the Louisville Bats "go green". Players in the Bats clubhouse are now using one-liter aluminum water bottles instead of discarding plastic cups on the ground. Four million pounds of plastic are said to be disposed of in landfills every year, a number that tripled from 1995 to 2005. So not only is Dickerson dialing it up with his bat, he is also dialing it up for the environment.

BARKER BREAKS RECORD: With 1B Kevin Barker's pinch hit, RBI single Friday night, he now owns the all-time franchise RBI record with 229 in his Louisville career. Barker has worn the Louisville uniforms of the Redbirds ('98), RiverBats ('99) and Bats ('08), and in three seasons, he has a career Louisville average of .273 (318-1,165) with 57 home runs and 229 RBI. Barker had a nine-game hitting streak (June 15-26) where he batted .353 (12-34) during that time.

NORFOLK TIDES

HOT START TO JULY: With another win last night, the Tides improved their record to 8-1 in July, which is the best record in the IL this month. Norfolk has won a season-high six straight games, which is the longest win streak since the Tides won the final five games of 2006 and the first game of 2007. The Tides are 2nd in the IL with a 3.18 ERA in July, and Tides pitchers have held opponents to a .230 average against while registering 84 strikeouts and walking just 21 in 82.0 innings. Norfolk's offense has also had a great start to the month, as the team has hit an IL-best .302 and scored an IL-best 63 runs, an average of 7.0 runs per game. Tides batters have also clubbed 32 extra-base hits in July (21 doubles, two triples and nine home runs), and Norfolk has drawn 42 walks in nine contests (4.7 walks a game).

ON BASE A LOT: Both Tike Redman and Scott Moore have reached base safely in 26 straight contests, which is the longest on-base streak by a member of the Tides this season. Redman has posted an on-base percentage of .392 over his 26-game streak, and he has also scored 14 runs over his last 11 games. Moore has posted an on-base percentage of .365 over his 26-game run, and the 24-year-old has also driven in a run in five of his last six games, hitting .375 (9-24) with a homer and 10 RBI over that stretch.

SERIES SWEEP: Last night's win gave the Tides their first four-game series sweep of the season, and it was their first four-game sweep since they won four straight over Durham over the final four games of the 2006 season. The 2006 four-game sweep took place at Harbor Park, and last night the Tides completed their first-ever four-game series over the Bulls in Durham.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX

DYNAMIC DUO: The PawSox have been blessed with a pair of aces in their starting rotation this season as they currently have the top two victory leaders in the League pitching back-to-back. RHP David Pauley, who has won 9 straight decisions since early-May to establish a new club-record for most consecutive wins (previously held by Allen Ripley in 1977 and Carl Pavano in 1997 who each won 8 straight decisions), is 11-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 17 starts and sits alone atop the International League with those 11 victories (he is also 7th in the League in ERA). RHP Charlie Zink, voted as an IL All-Star but replaced on the team yesterday due to the fact he will start this Sunday in Norfolk, has won 7 straight decisions dating back to early-May as well. He is 10-2 with a 2.28 ERA in 19 starts as his 10 victories are tied with John Parrish of Syracuse for 2nd most in the League. His ERA is 2nd best behind only Charlie Morton of Richmond, and Zink leads the IL with his 118.2 innings pitched. Pauley, 25, will try to improve on his win total this Saturday night in Norfolk while Zink, 28, will attempt to do likewise on Sunday night in Norfolk.

CHANCE TO EQUAL NEW HEIGHTS: The PawSox are 59-35 on the year which is good for the third-best record in all of Minor League Baseball behind only Frisco and San Jose. Thus, the Sox have again reached a season-high of 24-games over .500 for the third time in the past few days - they also did so on July 4 (57-33) and July 7 (58-34) - and these mark the first time they have been 24 over since September 1 of 2000 (82-58). The only time in franchise-history they have been 25-games over .500 came on August 31, 2000 (82-57). They can reach that plateau with a victory tonight in Norfolk.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Pawtucket's 59th win this year came on July 8 (Tuesday night) - their 59th win last year came on August 15 (when they were 59-65 and 12 GB). Win #60 last season did not come until August 18 (60-66). Pawtucket is just 8 wins shy of matching their victory total from all of last season (67-75).

SERIES DOMINENCE: Pawtucket is 13-3-11 in their first 27 series this season and they have lost just one of their last 19 series (9-1-9 in those). That series loss came when they dropped 2 of 3 at home against Buffalo from June 7-9.

KENTUCKY DERBY: The PawSox will have their two leading home run hitters entered among six of Triple-A Baseball's top sluggers who are set to compete in the 2008 Papa John's All-Star Home Run Derby scheduled for July 14 at 7:05 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky.

1B Jeff Bailey, who is currently with Boston but is expected to return to Pawtucket tomorrow night, is 3rd in the IL with 23 HR. Teammate OF Jonathan Van Every, who is 4th in the League with 22 HR, will also participate. Reigning International League MVP and home run champion Mike Hessman of Toledo headlines the IL side of the Home Run Derby. Hessman is currently 2nd in Minor League Baseball, and 1st in the IL, with 28 home runs. PCL representative Dallas McPherson of Albuquerque is the current Minor League Baseball home run leader with 31 roundtrippers. Joining McPherson on the PCL side will be Matt Brown (18 home runs) of the Salt Lake Bees and Jason Smith (18 home runs) of the Omaha Royals.

RICHMOND BRAVES

KEEP IT CLOSE: The Braves earned their 16th one-run win of the season Tuesday night in the first game. The Braves are 16-11 in one-run games and 25-17 in games decided by two runs or less. Richmond is 16-35 in games decided by three or more runs. Richmond won a game in their last at-bat for the seventh time this season in Tuesday's first game.

LONG BALLS: The Braves have not hit a home run in their last four games since Enrique Cruz hit a 9th inning game-tying homer against Norfolk

July 4. Richmond allowed three home runs in a game for the first time this season in Tuesday's first game. It was the first time the Braves surrendered more than two homers in a contest since last August 23 vs. Durham when the Bulls hit three.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY: The Braves had a home game postponed for the fifth time this season Wednesday night. The five home dates lost is the most in the IL this season, and the Braves' second in three nights. Prior to Monday's rain out the Braves had not been postponed since April 21. Wednesday's game will not be made up and for the third straight season the Braves will play fewer than 144 games.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS

REALLY HOT WING: Infielder/Designated hitter Randy Ruiz has a Red Wings season-high 18-game hitting streak batting .388 (26-67) with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, seven RBI and 11 runs scored. Ruiz has hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games (.353, 30-85), has 105 hits on the season (tied for 2nd in IL) and has a team leading 11 home runs and 49 RBI (tied with Darnell McDonald). Ruiz's 18-game hitting streak is the longest by a Red Wing since catcher Chris Heintz had an 18-game hitting streak July 21-August 12, 2005.

TODAY'S HISTORY LESSON: Ruiz's 18-game hitting streak is tied for sixth-longest by a Red Wing since 1993. Here's a look at the other hitting streaks:

Chris Heintz (18-games) 2005 Damon Buford (19-games) 1993 & 1994

Wayne Kirby (18-games) 2000 Mark Smith (20-games) 1993

Luis Rodriguez (19-games) 2004

HERE COMES THE SUN: The Red Wings closed out their pre All-Star break home schedule with no weather related postponements for the first time since Red Wings day-to-day records began in 1980. The Red Wings have 27 home dates remaining and with any luck Rochester looks to have their first season with no postponements since 1980 when day-to-day records began. Since 1980 the closest the Red Wings have come to playing their entire home schedule without a rainout is 2006 when they played 70 of their 72 openings at Frontier Field.

CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: Outfielder Garrett Jones hit his ninth home run of the season Monday night (his 67th as a Red Wing). Jones is the first Rochester player to hit more than 60 home runs during his Red Wings career since John Valle hit 66 home runs from 1980-84. Jones' home run passes Luke Easter and John Valle (both with 66) and puts him 10th all-time (67 home runs) on the Red Wings home run list and 8 away from tying Allie Clark for 9th all-time (75 home runs).

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE YANKEES

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: The Yankees brutal month of July roles on as the team continues an eight day, eight game road trip to Toledo and Columbus. SWB, who is home for just nine games in July, is in the midst of 25 of 35 away from PNC Field. After eight in Ohio, the team will enjoy three days off for the All-Star break before playing four more on the road at Lehigh Valley (July 17-20). The Yankees next home action won't be until July 21 vs. the Richmond Braves.

STOLEN BASES STOLEN AWAY: The Yankees are 2nd in the International League with 104 steals in 2008. With recent transactions, 72 of the team's 104 stolen bases are no longer on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's active roster. Brett Gardner, who led the League with 34 at the time of his departure, and Justin Christian and his 20 steals are now on the New York Yankees roster in the majors. The third of SWB's speedsters, Bernie Castro, who has 18 stolen bases, is on the DL with a hamstring injury.

RANSOM TO THE RESCUE: Cody Ransom has been named to the International League All-Star Team, replacing Justin Christian who was recalled to the New York Yankees on July 6 after the injury to NY Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon. In 85 games with the SWB Yankees in 2008, Ransom is hitting .254 with 14 HR and 48 RBI. The HR total ties Jason Lane for the team lead while the RBI and his 17 doubles are tops on the SWB roster. Ransom joins SWB Manager Dave Miley as the two team representatives in the annual game held this season in Louisville on July 16.

CHAVES IS ALL-WORLD: SWB Yankees pitching coach Rafael Chaves will serve in that same capacity for the World Team in the upcoming Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, June 13. The game, which began in 1999, is held every year as a part of the Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend. Chaves will work under former Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez and will be joined on the World Team coaching staff by Pat Listach, Scott Little, Larry Parrish, John Stearns and Carlos Subero.

SYRACUSE CHIEFS

WOLFE GOES BACK UP: Chiefs right-handed pitcher Brian Wolfe has made the trip back and forth from Toronto now four times as his latest promotion occurred after Jays right-handed pitcher Dustin McGowan was placed on the disabled list with a torn rotator cuff. In 9 relief appearances for the Chiefs Wolfe still has not given up a run.

DIAZ ON THE MEND: Chiefs catcher Robinzon Diaz has played 12 games for the Gulf Coast Blue Jays batting over .400 during that time. However he has not been able to catch on a daily basis but is expected back to Syracuse after the All-Star break from his ankle injury suffered on May 3.

POWER OUTAGE: Despite having only 132 at-bats, Chiefs catcher Erik Kratz leads the Chiefs with 9 home runs. Kratz currently is sharing the catching duties with Curtis Thigpen (2 home runs) until Diaz returns. Russ Adams, with eight home runs, is 2nd. Adams, who was leading the team at the time, has not hit a home run since May 28.

SMITH RETRUNS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE: Despite hitting over .300 (.302) outfielder David Smith was sent back to Double-A New Hampshire to play on an everyday basis. Smith was trying to crack an outfield that consists of Kevin Mench, Buck Coats, Wayne Lydon, and Russ Adams for everyday playing time.

TOLEDO MUD HENS

HOT HITTING HENS: The Hens' bats have been on fire as of late. In 12 of the last 16 games the Hens have had at least 10 hits. The biggest offensive explosion came on June 24 when the Hens' offense accounted for 19 hits against the Syracuse Chiefs.

HESSMAN DERBY BOUND: Mike Hessman was selected to be in the 2008 Triple-A Home Run Derby. The third baseman is currently leading the International League in home runs with 28. Last year he was selected to be in the 2007 Home Run Derby in Albuquerque where he hit two home runs. This season Hessman became the fastest player in 30 years to hit 20 home runs when he hit number 20 on May 28 versus Buffalo. Hessman currently has 290 professional home runs.

SEASON HIGH STREAKS: Freddy Guzman and Timo Perez both currently have individual season-high hit streaks. Perez is on a 12-game hit streak (19-50, .380, 3 HR, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 7 Runs) and Guzman (16-49, .327, 3 3B, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 8 Runs) has hit safely in 11 straight games.

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