Columbus & Indianapolis to Meet for 2015 International League Title
September 15, 2015 - International League (IL1) News Release
The 2015 Governors' Cup finals get underway tonight in Columbus, Ohio in a best-of-five matchup for the International League championship. The teams who tied atop the West Division with the League's best overall regular season record will now meet to decide who will hoist the Governors' Cup and represent the IL at next Tuesday's Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game in El Paso, Texas. Columbus and Indianapolis battled throughout the season for supremacy in the IL West Division. Both teams had an opportunity to win the race outright on the final day of the regular season last Monday, but ultimately had to settle on being co-champions. By virtue of their narrow 11-10 advantage in the head-to-head season series, Columbus entered the playoffs in the division champion's slot while Indianapolis entered in the Wild Card position. That may have benefitted the Indians, who opened the first round at home and went on to sweep North Division champion Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in three straight. After putting away the RailRiders on Friday, the Indians had to wait until Monday night to learn where they'd head for Game 1 of the finals. The Clippers battled past weather issues and a resilient opponent before finally getting bye the Norfolk Tides in five games. The ace up manager Chris Tremie's sleeve proved to be Game 5 starter Mike Clevinger, who tossed 7.2 no-hit innings in an unforgettable Triple-A debut on Monday. Separated by just 175 miles, the Indians and Clippers will become the first teams from the same division to meet in the Governors' Cup finals since Richmond defeated Durham in 2007.
Familiar Foes - Reviewing the Regular Season Series
The Clippers and Indians kicked off the 2015 campaign with four games at Victory Field, the first of seven series the two teams would play against one another this season. The winning team and pitcher from all 21 meetings are listed below.
April 9-12 at Indianapolis
April 20-22 at Columbus
June 29-July 1 at Indianapolis
July 10-12 at Columbus
Columbus, 4-0 (B. Chen)
Indianapolis, 4-3 in 10 (B. Lincoln)
Columbus, 6-1 (J. Cooper)
Columbus, 6-2 (S. Marcum)
Columbus, 3-0 (D. Salazar)
Columbus, 5-4 (G. Soto)
Indianapolis, 3-1 (A. Sanchez)
Columbus, 6-2 (W. Roberts)
Indianapolis, 2-0 (C. Volstad)
Indianapolis, 8-6 (C. Leesman)
Indianapolis, 2-1 (R. Liz)
Columbus, 10-3 (T. Haley)
Indianapolis, 2-1 (D. Guerra)
July 27-30 at Columbus
August 31-Sept. 1 at Columbus
Sept. 2-3 at Indianapolis
Columbus, 4-3 in 11 (T. Haley)
Indianapolis, 6-3 in 12 (B. Wood)
Columbus, 4-2 (W. Roberts)
Columbus, 4-3 (K. Crockett)
Columbus, 10-6 (T. Murata)
Indianapolis, 6-3 (W. Boscan)
Indianapolis, 3-1 (R. Liz)
Indianapolis, 2-1 (W. Boscan)
First Round Recap: How They Got Here
Clippers Best Tides in Memorable Five-Game First Round Series
It took six days and a full five games for Columbus to get past Norfolk in the first round of the postseason. The series opened in Norfolk with a 5-2 Clippers victory, but Game 2 on Thursday was suspended in the 2nd inning, moving the rest of the series back a day. Both managers used their scheduled Game 3 starters for the conclusion on Friday, with Norfolk coming out on top 6-1. When the series finally shifted to Ohio, Columbus assumed control. The Clippers won Game 3 decisively, then carried a 4-3 lead into the 9th inning of Game 4. Closer Carlos Marmol couldn't seal the deal, as a two-run Tides 9th gave Norfolk a stunning 5-4 victory. A fifth and deciding game was now scheduled for Monday, and the Clippers were left to turn to right-hander Mike Clevinger, who after a recent promotion from Akron was making his Triple-A debut. Clevinger delivered a performance for the ages, striking out a career-high ten batters without allowing a hit over 7.2 innings. Clevinger was pulled after reaching his organizational pitch limit, and though the bullpen couldn't complete the no-hitter, home runs by Audy Ciriaco and Erik Gonzalez helped the Clippers roll to a 5-0 Game 5 victory. It was the first Game 5 victory for the Clippers in the International League playoffs since the 1992 finals, when Columbus memorably scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to shock the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons and win 4-3.
First Round Recap
Key Performances for Clippers
Game 1: Columbus 5, Norfolk 2
Ryan Merritt (SP) - Tossed 6.2 shutout innings
Game 2: Norfolk 6, Columbus 1
Audy Ciriaco (2B) - Solo homer in 6th
Game 3: Columbus 6, Norfolk 2
Zach Walters (DH) - 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Game 4: Norfolk 5, Columbus 4
Erik Gonzalez (SS) - Three hits including two 2B
Game 5: Columbus 5, Norfolk 0
Mike Clevinger (SP) - 7.2 hitless innings, 10 SO
Ryan Merritt
Zach Walters
Indians Sweep Away RailRiders to Advance to First Finals in a Decade
The Indianapolis Indians took immediate control of their first round series with the North Division champion Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. A six-run first inning in Game 1 set the tone offensively, while five double plays and a fine pitching effort by starter Wilfredo Boscan helped the Indians roll past SWB 7-3 and claim the franchise's first home playoff win in fifteen years. The Tribe rode another big inning to victory in Game 2, plating four runs in the 5th and getting 8.0 strong innings from Vance Worley to win 6-1. The series moved east for Game 3, and playing in at home with their backs against the wall, the RailRiders managed to hold Indy at bay for eight innings. A 2-0 SWB 9th inning lead was erased when the Indians scored four times, highlighted by John Bowker's two-run go-ahead single. IL-saves leader Blake Wood closed the door on the RailRiders in the bottom of the 9th, completing the first-ever postseason series sweep for Indianapolis in the Governors' Cup playoffs.
First Round Recap
Key Performances for Indians
Game 1: Indianapolis 7, SWB 3
Dan Gamache (3B) - Bases loaded double in 1st inning
Game 2: Indianapolis 6, SWB 1
Van Worley (SP) - Allowed 1 unearned run in 8.0 IP
Game 3: Indianapolis 4, SWB 2
John Bowker (DH) - Series-winning 2-run hit in 9th .
Dan Gamache
Vance Worley
2015 GILDAN TRIPLE-A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Tuesday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET
El Paso, Texas
2015 International League Governors' Cup Finals Preview
September 15, 2015
Page Three
Governors' Cup Playoff Notes
The Columbus Clippers are seeking their tenth Governors' Cup title, which would tie them with the Rochester franchise for the most in IL history. Affiliates of the Cleveland Indians have won seven Cups, tied for second all-time behind the Yankees. Only Columbus' two most-recent championships, in 2010 and 2011, came while affiliated with Cleveland.
Indianapolis won its first Governors' Cup in 1963 during the franchise's only season in the IL prior to rejoining in 1998. The Tribe's second and most recent Cup was won in 2000 after a five-game finals series victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Indians were affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2000. The Pittsburgh Pirates organization, which has been affiliated with an IL club for 37 seasons, has never claimed the Governors' Cup.
This will be just the second time that two teams from the IL West Division have met in the Governors' Cup finals. The first was in 2005, when the Indians were swept by Toledo in three straight games.
Should Indianapolis achieve a sweep in the finals, the Indians would become just the sixth team ever to win the Governors' Cup without a single postseason loss. To date, the only teams to have swept their way through the playoffs were Newark (1937), Tidewater (1982), Columbus (1987 & 1996), and Durham (2002).
The International League will recognize a Governors' Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player once again this postseason. The first player to be so honored was Pawtucket's Ryan Lavarnway in 2014.
If Indianapolis wins the Governors' Cup, they'll become the first team since 2007 to do so on their home field. Since the 2007 Richmond Braves won Game 5 of the finals at home, the title celebrations for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (2008), Durham (2009, 2013), Columbus (2010-11), and Pawtucket (2012, 2014) have all come on the road.
Neither Columbus or Indianapolis claimed an International League special award in 2015 (Most Valuable Player, Most Valuable Pitcher, Rookie of the Year, or Manager of the Year). The last Governors' Cup champion without at least one special award winner was the 2010 Columbus Clippers.
Between 2007 and 2014, the West Division sent a team to the Governors' Cup finals just twice, when Columbus won it all in 2010 and 2011.
International League Stories from September 15, 2015
- Volstad Steady, Bullpen Shaky in Game 1 Loss to Clippers - Indianapolis Indians
- Orioles Make Four Rosters Moves - Norfolk Tides
- Gwinnett Braves Announce 2016 Schedule - Gwinnett Stripers
- Columbus & Indianapolis to Meet for 2015 International League Title - IL1
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