Carolina's Wood takes ERA title
September 8, 2009 - Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs is pleased to announce that Carolina Mudcats lefthander Travis Wood has won the 2009 Southern League ERA Award with a 1.21 earned-run average.
To cap one of the most dominant pitching seasons in Southern League history, Wood becomes the first Mudcats player to claim the award since Elmer Dessens in 1995. Wood obliterated the league single-season ERA record with a miniscule 1.21 mark, easily besting the previous record of 1.57, set by Montgomery's Dave Rozema in 1976. The 22-year-old lefty became just the ninth Southern League pitcher since 1964 to pitch at least 109 innings and post a sub-2.00 ERA.
Wood made 19 starts prior to his promotion to Triple-A Louisville and allowed two runs or less in 17 of them, including in 14 of his final 15 Southern League starts. On average, he allowed less than one earned run per start with 16 earned runs in 19 ballgames. It's easy to see why; opposing hitters batted just .189 against him.
Despite losing three times in his first four starts, Wood won nine consecutive decisions before his call-up. His best stretch of the season was from June 2 - June 12, a three- start span in which he allowed zero runs, seven hits and two walks in 22 innings.
Since being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2005 draft, Wood has posted a 3.38 ERA in 529 professional innings. In 167.2 combined innings at Carolina and Louisville this season, Wood is 13-5 with a 1.77 ERA, which ranked second among all full-season minor league pitchers.
Southern League Stories from September 8, 2009
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- 2009 Pitching Staff Sets New ERA Mark - Mississippi Braves
- Carolina's Wood takes ERA title - SL1
- West Tenn's Carrera wins batting crown - SL1
- Stars to Honor Neighborhood Heroes - Huntsville Stars
- Suns Host Barons for Game Three of Southern Division Series - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Southern League Names Players of the Week - SL1
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