Gem, Streak Capture IL Honors

August 11, 2003 - International League (IL1) News Release

The International League announced today that Pawtucket pitcher Bronson Arroyo and Buffalo outfielder Alex Escobar have been named the LeagueÂ’s Pitcher and Batter-of-the-Week for the period of August 4- 10. Arroyo tossed just the fourth nine-inning perfect game in the ILÂ’s history on Sunday to become the PawSoxÂ’ fourth award winner in the past five weeks. The slugging Escobar is the third Bison to be named one of the ILÂ’s Players-of-the-Week this season.

Pawtucket has risen to the top of the IL North Division behind the season-long performance of righthander BRONSON ARROYO. YesterdayÂ’s outing, however, surpassed anything the Key West native had done in 2003, much less during his previous eight professional seasons. Returning to the hill after suffering a loss to Syracuse on Tuesday, Arroyo was perfect in the PawSoxÂ’ 7-0 victory over Buffalo. The 26-year-old faced the minimum 27 batters - striking out 9, retiring 10 on fly balls, and coaxing 8 groundouts - to record the fourth nine-inning perfect game in the ILÂ’s 120 seasons of operation. Amazingly, the League saw just a pair of perfect gems during the first 116 campaigns, then has seen two tossed by Pawtucket pitchers in the past four years (current ExposÂ’ hurler Tomo Ohka had the ILÂ’s last perfect game for the PawSox on June 1, 2000). Bronson needed just 101 pitches to make IL history - 73 strikes - and reached a three-ball count on only a trio of Bisons. Arroyo, who pitched for the victorious IL Team in JulyÂ’s Triple-A All-Star Game, has been solid for the PawSox all season. YesterdayÂ’s win moved him into a tie atop the IL leaderboard with 12 victories, while his 9 Ks extended his IL strikeouts lead to 149 (10 ahead of RichmondÂ’s Andy Pratt). He also ranks among IL leaders in innings pitched (5th), complete games (T-3rd) and ERA (9th).

Arroyo is in his first season in the Boston organization after spending the first eight seasons of his career in the Pittsburgh PiratesÂ’ system. He pitched for Triple-A Nashville between 1999-2002 and made 53 appearances for the Major League club in the past three seasons, going 9-14 with 111 strikeouts. Last year, Bronson was tied for the PCL lead with 3 complete games and 2 shutouts and was second in the loop with a 2.96 ERA. The Brooksville, FL resident has twice tied for his League lead in wins - he topped the Carolina Lg. with 12 for Lynchburg in 1997 and paced the Eastern Lg. with 15 for Altoona in 1999.

Buffalo outfielder ALEX ESCOBAR has returned from an injury that wiped out his 2002 season to rank among IL leaders in home runs and RBI. He added to his totals in those categories this past week to earn Batter-of-the-Week honors. The right-handed Escobar first saw action in the first game of WednesdayÂ’s doubleheader in Rochester, hitting a solo home run in BuffaloÂ’s 7-5 loss. He sat out the nightcap but returned on Thursday, launching a two-run shot that keyed a five-run first inning in the BisonsÂ’ 6-3 win. He continued the streak with a pair of two-run homers on both Friday and Saturday nights as Buffalo split a pair with Pawtucket prior to ArroyoÂ’s gem yesterday. With homers in four straight games, the 24-yearold Escobar, who also played for the IL in the Triple-A All-Star Game, became just the second IL hitter with such a run in 2003 (ColumbusÂ’ Fernando Seguignol homered in five straight June 30-July 4). Escobar and Seguignol are locked in a battle in the IL home run race, with Escobar currently ahead by one. He is also three RBI off of Andy AbadÂ’s League-leading pace.

Escobar was acquired by Cleveland following the 2001 season as part of an eight-player deal with the New York Mets. Coming off a 12 HR/52 RBI season for Norfolk in his Triple-A debut in 2001, the native of Venezuela was expected to contend for a spot in ClevelandÂ’s outfield before tearing his ACL in spring training. Escobar has twice participated in the All-Star Futures Game (2000, Â’01) and was the Eastern LeagueÂ’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2000 after hitting .288 with 16 HR and 67 RBI for Binghamton.

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