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EL1 Eastern League

Chase Wright Promoted To New York

April 24, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1) News Release


Trenton Thunder left-handed starting pitcher Chase Wright was rewarded for winning the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week with a promotion to the New York Yankees where he made his Major League debut against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium last Tuesday night.

Wright, who had never pitched above Single-A entering this season and made just two starts with the Thunder this year, gave up three runs on five hits and struck out three batters against a tough Indians lineup to earn a victory in a 10-3 win.

The 2006 Florida State League Pitcher of the Year made his second career Major League start against the Boston Red Sox on national television Sunday night and earned a no-decision after giving up four runs on five hits in three innings pitched.

The 24-year old pitched two scoreless innings to start the game and got the first two outs of the third inning before giving up four consecutive home runs to Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek.

It is expected that with the return of right-hander Chien-Ming Wang from the disable list to the Yankees rotation that Wright will return to the minor leagues and continue his development, most likely as a member of the Trenton pitching staff.

Attendance Records Set Over The Weekend

After suffering through cold and wet weather through the first two weeks of the season the sun finally came out this past weekend and with it so did the fans. Large crowds could be seen around the league and in two ballparks attendance records were broken.

In Reading, nearly 30,000 fans came out to FirstEnergy Stadium for a four game series between the first place R-Phils and the Akron Aeros. The weekend was capped with a franchise-record 9,880 fans coming out to the ballpark to see a battle for first place which the Aeros won 14-3 to move into a first place tie with Reading.

Reading was not the only city which set an attendance record on Sunday, as the New Britain Rock Cats drew the largest Sunday crowd in the history of the franchise. A total of 7,181 were on hand for the Rock Cats dramatic ninth inning 9-8 come-from-behind victory against the Connecticut Defenders.

Trenton and New Hampshire did not set any records but did draw over 5,000 fans per game during the weekend.

Average Weekend Attendance

(April 20-22)

Altoona - 4,652

Erie - 2,039

New Britain - 4,726

New Hampshire - 6,002

Reading - 8,173

Trenton - 5,175

Teams Pay Tribute To Virginia Tech Victims

A number of teams and individuals around the professional sports world paid tribute to the victims of last Monday's tragic shooting at Virginia Tech last week, including some of the teams in the Eastern League.

The Altoona Curve observed a moment of silence at Blair County Ballpark prior to their game against the Harrisburg Senators last Friday night. In addition, the team also painted the Virginia Tech logo behind home plate, had the staff wear their maroon colored staff shirts and also encouraged all of their fans to wear their maroon colored Curve shirts and hats to the game.

In New Britain, the Rock Cats partnered with the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association to offer remembrances and prayers for the victims of the tragedy during a post-game ceremony following their game against Connecticut on Sunday afternoon. As part of the post-game ceremonies the team also hosted a concert by two groups (Tree 63 and Holy Fire) associated with the Safe At Home Ministry. Response was so great for this event that the team welcomed their largest Sunday crowd in franchise history to the game.

R-Phils Moran Honored For Quick Start

Reading centerfielder Javon Moran was named the Philadelphia Phillies Minor League Player of the Week for the opening week of the season after hitting .436 with five doubles, one triple, 12 runs scored and four RBI through the first nine games of the season.

Javon currently leads the league in hits (22) and runs scored (15) and is also ranked among the league leaders in stolen bases (7-3rd), doubles (5-tied 4th), extra-base hits (7-tied 4th) and batting average (.344-10th).

Moran was originally selected by the Phillies in the fourth round of the 2003 draft out of Auburn-Montgomery. Moran was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2004 and later reacquired by the Phillies from the Reds via another trade this offseason.

Eastern league Team News and Notes

For the week ending 4/22/07

Akron Aeros

E.L. Pitcher of the Week Aaron Laffey has allowed just one run in each of his first three starts and is now 2-0 and is tied for sixth in the league in ERA (1.50). SS Asdrubal Cabrera has played in 13 games this season and has recorded a hit in every game played. His active 13-game hitting streak is the longest in the Eastern League and he ranks fifth in the league in batting (.367). Akron won three out of four at Reading last weekend to climb into a first place tie.

Altoona Curve

1B/DH Randy Ruiz reached base safely in each of the Curve's first 13 games, posting a .310 average (13-for-42) with a league-high four home runs and 12 RBI during that span. The Curve moved above the .500 mark (7-6) for the first time this season with an 8-7 win over Harrisburg on Sunday. 3B Neil Walker went 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple on Neil Walker Bobblehead Doll Night at Blair County Ballpark on Saturday against Harrisburg.

Binghamton Mets

Binghamton's bullpen has combined to strike out 37 batters while walking only 10 in 49.2 innings of work this season. OF Miguel Negron has hit safely in nine of the first 10 games this season and is batting .318 with four doubles and nine RBI.

Bowie Baysox

OF Nolan Reimold is leading the league in extra-base hits (10), is tied for the league lead in doubles (7) and is also ranked among the league leaders in home runs (3-tied 2nd), RBI (11-tied 4th) and slugging percentage (.618-5th). The Baysox scored eight runs in the seventh inning of an 11-5 win over Erie on Friday.

Erie SeaWolves

RHP Dallas Trahern has won all three of his starts this season and is tied for the league lead in wins, ranked second in innings pitched (19.1) and third in ERA (0.93). 1B Jeff Larish went 3-for-5 with a home run and six RBI to lead the SeaWolves to an 11-6 win over Bowie on Sunday. Larish has driven in a league-best 18 runs in 13 games this season.

Harrisburg Senators

The Senators won their first road game of the year on Thursday at Altoona. They have held a lead in seven of their first 10 road games but have won just once. RHP Collin Balester, the top prospect in the Washington organization, is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 16 strikeouts and four walks in 16 innings of work in his three starts this season.

New Britain Rock Cats

LHP Jose Mijares picked up his first Eastern League win in New Britain's come from behind victory on Sunday and is now 1-0 with two saves, five strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA in five relief appearances this season. The Rock Cats hosted their largest Sunday crowd in franchise history on Sunday when 7,181 fans passed through the gates at New Britain Stadium.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

LF Aaron Mathews extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning against Portland on Sunday that sparked a game-winning rally. Mathews, a 2004 draft pick, is batting .359 in his Double-A debut for the Fisher Cats this season. LHP David Purcey faced just one batter over the minimum and struck out 11 batters while tossing a one-hit shutout in the first game of a doubleheader at Connecticut on Wednesday.

Connecticut Defenders

OF Alex Requena stole four bases against New Britain on Saturday and is currently tied for the league lead in steals (9). Connecticut's pitching staff is currently ranked second in the league in team ERA with a 3.04 mark. The Defenders have won only one of their five games at Dodd Stadium this season and have lost seven of their last 10 games overall.

Portland Sea Dogs

Due to a foot of snow on Opening Day and a powerful Nor'easter the following week, Portland has only played 3 of 10 scheduled home games. OF Jacoby Ellsbury hit .563 (9-for-16) last week including two triples, two runs scored and six RBI. On the season Ellsbury has a league-best .455 batting average and has hit safely in 9 of 10 games including eight straight.

Reading Phillies

An all-time record crowd of 9,880 were on hand at FirstEnergy Stadium when the R-Phils battled Akron on Sunday afternoon. SS Jesus Merchan went 4-for-4 with two homers and six RBI against Akron on Saturday. Merchan has only one homer since the 2003 season when he hit five and the six RBI tied a career-high which he set last year against Portland on July 26.

Trenton Thunder

Trenton's team ERA of 1.73 is not only the best in the Eastern League but also the best in all of Minor League Baseball. The Thunder pitching staff had their streak of consecutive scoreless innings snapped at 49 when they gave up four runs in the fourth inning against Binghamton in a 5-2 loss last Thursday.

Transactions

Akron Aeros

Received INF Shaun Larkin from Buffalo (AAA)

Placed INF Shaun Larkin on the DL

Altoona Curve

Placed INF Javier Guzman on the DL

Received INF Chris Truby from Indianapolis (AAA)

Binghamton Mets

Sent C Mike Nickeas to Brooklyn (A)

Received C Robinson Cancel from New Orleans (AAA)

Bowie Baysox

Placed LHP Oscar Alvarez on the Temporary Inactive List

Received RHP Paul Shuey from Norfolk (AAA)

Sent RHP Paul Shuey to Norfolk (AAA)

Activated LHP Oscar Alvarez from the Temporary Inactive List

Erie SeaWolves

Placed INF Adam Haley on the Restricted List

Received Pedro Cotto from Lakeland (A)

Sent LHP Ian Ostlund to Toledo (AAA)

Received RHP Anthony Tomey from Lakeland (A)

Harrisburg Senators

Sent RHP Edward Valdez to Columbus (AAA)

Received RHP Dan Kolb from Potomac (A)

New Britain Rock Cats

Placed RHP Anthony Swarzak on the Suspended List

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Activated C Robinzon Diaz from the DL

Sent INF Brad Hassey to Syracuse (AAA)

Sent OF Wayne Lydon to Syracuse (AAA)

Connecticut Defenders

None

Portland Sea Dogs

Traded RHP Scott Shoemaker to the Texas Organization

Received RHP Lincoln Holdzkom from Extended Spring Training

Reading Phillies

Placed C Jason Hill on the Temporary Inactive List

Received C Dusty Wathan from Ottawa (AAA)

Trenton Thunder

Sent LHP Chase Wright to New York (AL)

Placed INF Carlos Mendoza on the DL

Received INF Russell Raley from Extended Spring Training

Received C J.T. LaFountain

Check out the Eastern League Statistics



Eastern League Stories from April 24, 2007


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