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EL1 Eastern League

Eastern League Playoff Match-Ups Set

September 8, 2004 - Eastern League (EL1) News Release


Northern Division

The Northern Division Championship Series features a showdown between the Binghamton Mets and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The Fisher Cats have won six straight games against the B-Mets and won 12 of the 20 meetings between the two teams this season.

The key to success for New Hampshire this season has been their pitching staff, which had a league-best 3.486 ERA this season. The ace of the New Hampshire pitching staff is Gustavo Chacin, who had a record of 16-2 and a 2.92 ERA this year. Chacin will start game one of the series against Binghamton's Yusmeiro Petit.

If the B-Mets hope to have a chance in this series they will have to turn around a late season skid that has seen them lose 19 of their last 25 games, including nine straight games to close out the season.

Game One, September 8: Binghamton at New Hampshire, 6:05 p.m.

Game Two, September 9: Binghamton at New Hampshire, 6:05 p.m.

Game Three, September 10: New Hampshire at Binghamton, 7 p.m.

Game Four, September 11 (if necessary): New Hampshire at Binghamton, 7 p.m.

Game Five, September 12 (if necessary): Binghamton at New Hampshire, 5:05 p.m.

Southern Division

In the Southern Division series, the Altoona Curve will battle their in-state rivals, the Erie SeaWolves. The Curve are making their second consecutive playoff appearance after winning the Southern Division regular season title. This season marks the first time the SeaWolves have made the playoffs since the 2001 season.

The SeaWolves had a record of 13-7 against the Curve during the season, with the SeaWolves winning 7 of the 10 games played at Jerry Uht Park and 6 out of 10 at Blair County Ballpark.

In order to continue their success, the SeaWolves will have to slow down the Altoona offense, which had a league-best .273 batting average this season. Since joining the Curve in late July, slugger Brad Eldred has paced the Altoona offense, with 17 homers and 60 RBI in just 39 games.

Game One, September 8: Erie at Altoona, 6:35 p.m.

Game Two, September 9: Erie at Altoona, 6:35 p.m.

Game Three, September 10: Altoona at Erie, 7:05 p.m.

Game Four, September 11 (if necessary): Altoona at Erie, 7:05 p.m.

Game Five, September 12 (if necessary): Erie at Altoona, 6:05 p.m.

Sea Dogs Break Franchise Attendance Record

The Portland Sea Dogs drew 6,312 fans for their final home game of the season on Sunday, pushing their total attendance for the season to 434,684, which is a new franchise record. The previous franchise record of 429,763, was set in 1995.

The Sea Dogs had 15 sell out crowds this season and averaged 6,200 fans per game in 70 openings. It is the fourth time in team history the Sea Dogs have averaged better than 6,000 fans per game.

Portland will finish 3rd in the 12 team Eastern League in attendance and 5th among the 30 Double-A teams in total attendance (behind Round Rock, Frisco, Akron and Reading). Out of the 176 minor league teams in affiliated baseball, the Sea Dogs will finish 26th in total attendance, Portland finished in 30th place last season, 31st in 2002, and 32nd in 2001.

Reading Has Another Record Breaking Season At The Gates

In their 38th season as a member of the Eastern League, the Reading Phillies have established a new record for average attendance. The R-Phils averaged 7,138 fans per game in 67 home dates this season and drew a total of 478,257 fans, the second highest total in franchise history.

"It is a tribute to our staff and our fans that we have been able to maintain such a high level of attendance year after year," said R-Phils General Manager Chuck Domino. "We are proud of reaching a new high mark for average attendance this season and we thank all of our season ticket holders, corporate sponsors, media that cover our franchise and all of the great baseball fans of Baseballtown for supporting our organization."

In 53 seasons the Reading franchise has hosted an Eastern League record 8.9 million fans for baseball games. In May of 2005, the R-Phils should become the first Eastern League franchise to draw a total of nine-million fans.

Rock Cats Host Record Setting 15th Sellout Of The Season

The New Britain Rock Cats drew a sellout crowd of 7,074 fans for their final home game of the season on Monday. The sellout was the 15th of the season for the Rock cats, eclipsing their previous franchise best, which was established in 2002.

The sellout crowd also pushed the Rock Cats' total attendance for the 2004 season to 311,671 fans, a new franchise record and also the highest total season attendance for a Connecticut-based team in the history of the Eastern League.

The Rock Cats previous single-season attendance record was 271,143, which was set during the 2003 season.

Transactions

Akron Aeros
Received RHP Jason Bere
Placed LHP Shea Douglas on the DL
Sent C Ryan Garko to Buffalo (AAA)
Sent 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff to Lake County (A)
Received 3B Corey Smith from Buffalo (AAA)
Received C Ryan Spilman from Burlington (R)
Activated OF Franklin Gutierrez from the DL
Sent RHP Fausto Carmona to Buffalo (AAA)
Received LHP Dave Martinez from Kinston (A)
Placed RHP Jim Ed Warden on the DL
Received RHP Josh Harris from Burlington (R)

Altoona Curve
None

Binghamton Mets
Received RHP Jake Joseph from Norfolk (AAA)
Received LHP Neal Musser from Norfolk (AAA)
Sent RHP Mike Meyers to Norfolk (AAA)
Sent RHP David Byard to Norfolk (AAA)
Received OF Angel Pagan from Norfolk (AAA)
Received INF Chris Basak from Norfolk (AAA)
Received RHP Scott Strickland on a Rehab Assignment
Received RHP Bryan Edwards from St. Lucie (A)
Placed RHP Jake Joseph on the Temporarily Inactive List
Sent RHP Scott Strickland to New York (NL)

Bowie Baysox
None

Erie SeaWolves
None

Harrisburg Senators
Sent OF Jeremy Ware to Edmonton (AAA)
Activated RHP Darwin Marrero from the DL
Sent RHP Darwin Marrero to Brevard County (A)
Placed INF G.J. Raymundo on the DL
Received RHP Gustavo Mata from Brevard County (A)
Received RHP Jason Bergmann from Brevard County (A)

New Britain Rock Cats
Sent RHP Boof Bonser to Rochester (AAA)

New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Sent RHP Kip Bouknight to Syracuse (AAA)
Received LHP Gustavo Chacin from Syracuse (AAA)

Norwich Navigators
Traded LHP Josh Habel to the Brewers Organization

Portland Sea Dogs
Placed LHP Greg Montalbano on the DL
Activated LHP Phil Seibel from the DL
Sent LHP Phil Seibel to Pawtucket (AAA)
Sent LHP Lenny Dinardo to Boston
Sent LHP Abe Alvarez to Lowell
Activated RHP Josh Stevens from the DL

Reading Phillies
Sent LF/C John Castellano to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)
Sent INF Brian Hitchcox to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)
Received INF Zach Norman from Lakewood (A)

Trenton Thunder
Received RHP Brad Blackwell from Staten Island (A)
Received LHP Shaun Parker from Staten Island (A)

Line of the Week

September 5, 2004
AB 1B 2B 3B HR R RBI BB
5 3 1 0 1 2 6 0

Jason Grove, Trenton Thunder

Trenton Thunder outfielder Jason Grove had a career day for the Thunder in the first game of a doubleheader against Erie on Sunday. Grove went 5-for-5 with a home run and six RBI in the game. The 26-year old tied a career-high with 68 RBI on the season. Over the final 45 games of the season Grove hit .333 with 39 RBI.

Quote of the Week

"A good leadoff man sets the tone of the game. He sets the table, as I call it, and also can arrange the way the other players sit at the table. He jump-starts things, is an igniter. You usually can't rattle a leadoff guy."

Lou Brock, St. Louis Cardinals

News and Notes From Around The League
Week Ending September 6, 2004

Akron Aeros

1B Michael Aubrey hit .367 (11-for-30) with three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, five runs scored and four walks in nine games for the Aeros last week. RHP Jake Dittler had lost five straight starts before tossing a complete game four-hit shutout against Harrisburg on Saturday. Dittler struck out three batters and walked two in seven innings of work.

Altoona Curve

OF Nate McLouth hit .322 and established new club records for hits (166), runs scored (93) and doubles (40) this season, his first at the Double-A level. In just 39 games with the Curve, 1B Brad Eldred hit 17 home runs and drove in 60 runs. Eldred combined to hit .301 with 38 home runs and 137 RBI between Altoona and Single-A Lynchburg this season. The Curve clinched its first-ever Division Championship last Wednesday and finished the season with the most wins in franchise history (85).

Binghamton Mets

The Binghamton Mets are currently on a 9-game losing skid, their longest of the season by two games. The B-Mets went winless on their entire 8-game homestand to close the regular season, getting swept in consecutive 4-game series against Portland and Reading. Former B-Met Jeff Keppinger, now playing for the New York Mets, won the Eastern League batting title with a .341 average.

Bowie Baysox

In a pair of starts last week, RHP Hayden Penn went 2-0 with eight strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA. OF Eugene Kingsale hit .306 with two doubles, one triple, two RBI and five runs scored in eight games last week. The Baysox won six of the final 10 games of the season to finish the year in third place in the Southern Division with a record of 73-69.

Erie SeaWolves

The Erie SeaWolves clinched their first playoff berth since the 2001 season last week. E.L. Player of the Week Kurt Airoso hit .379 with two doubles, six home runs, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored in eight games last week. Airoso finished the season with 34 home runs, a new single-season franchise record.

Harrisburg Senators

RHP Darrell Rasner did not allow a run in two starts last week. Rasner had five strikeouts and limited opponents to a .129 batting average in 10.2 innings of work. The Senators finished the season with an Eastern League worst record of 52-90.

New Britain Rock Cats

1B Garrett Jones hit his 30th home run on September 6, tying him with former Rock Cat Michael Cuddyer for the single season home run record. C Gabby Torres hit .500 (7-for-14) with two home runs and six RBI last week. RHP Boof Bosner was sent to Triple-A Rochester on Friday and earned a win against Pawtucket, his first at the Triple-A level.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats capped an 84-win regular season by setting or tying 13 franchise records in a 19-6 win over Portland on Monday. Former Sea Dog John Hattig became the first New Hampshire player to drive in five runs in a game, going 4-for-6 with a three-run homer. The 19 runs were the most scored by New Hampshire in franchise history and the most ever scored against the Sea Dogs in the 11-year history of the franchise.

Norwich Navigators

E.L. Pitcher of the Week Chris Begg started both opening day and the final game of the season for the Navigators. Norwich set a franchise record with 32 one-run losses this season, breaking the previous record of 28, which was set during the 2002 season. OF Carlos Valderrama hit .357 (10-for-28) with one double, one home run, three RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base and one walk in eight games last week.

Portland Sea Dogs

The Portland Sea Dogs completed a 4-game sweep of Binghamton from August 30-September 2. It was Portland's first ever 4-game sweep of the B-Mets in franchise history. LHP Kason Gabbard was 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in a pair of starts last week. 2B Kenny Perez hit .429 (9-for-21) with six doubles, four RBI, six runs scored and six walks in six games last week.

Reading Phillies

LF Pat Burrell and RHP Ryan Madson made Major League Rehab assignments with the R-Phils from August 30 through September 2. Burrell hit two home runs in his first two games and Madson pitched in two games, giving up one earned run in two innings of work.

Trenton Thunder

OF Jason Grove went 5-for-5 with a home run and six RBI in game one of a doubleheader against Erie on September 5. Grove became the first Trenton player since Shea Hillenbrand to have five hits in a game.

Eastern League Player of the Week

KURT AIROSO, a designated hitter for the Erie SeaWolves, is the Eastern League's Player of the Week for the week ending September 6th. Airoso, a native of Tulare, California, had an outstanding week for the SeaWolves, hitting .379 (11-for-29) with two doubles, six home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, four walks, a .471 on-base percentage and a 1.069 slugging percentage. The 6'2", 190 lb. slugger hit multiple homers in two games last week and had multiple hits in three games, including a four-hit, two-homer, four-RBI game on Thursday. Kurt, who finished the year ranked among the league leaders in home runs (34), RBI (94), extra-base hits (52) and slugging percentage (.548), was signed by the Detroit Tigers as a minor league free agent on January 21, 2004.

Kurt Airoso's Batting Line for the week ending September 6, 2004:
G Avg. AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R SB BB SLG%
8 .379 29 11 2 0 6 10 10 1 4 1.069

Year to Date:
G Avg. AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R SB BB SLG%
122 .260 427 111 15 3 34 94 78 7 82 .548

Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

CHRIS BEGG, a righthanded pitcher for the Norwich Navigators, has been named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week for the week ending September 6th. The 6'4", 195 lb. hurler was 2-0 with 16 strikeouts and a 1.20 ERA for the Navigators last week. In his first start of the week, Begg, a native of Sutherland, Canada, struck out seven batters and did not issue a walk while giving up one run on three hits to earn a win against the Fisher Cats at Gill Stadium on Wednesday. In his second start of the week the 24-year old gave up one run on four hits while striking out nine batters to pick up a win against the Baysox at Prince George's Stadium. Begg, who was 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA with Norwich this season, had his contract purchased by the San Francisco Giants from the St. Paul Saints on July 9, 2003.

Chris Begg's Statistics for the week ending September 6, 2004:
G W L S IP H R ER K BB ERA
2 2 0 0 15 7 2 2 16 0 1.20

Year to Date:
G W L S IP H R ER K BB ERA
16 9 1 0 94 87 27 24 61 11 2.30

Check out the Eastern League Statistics



Eastern League Stories from September 8, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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