Governors' Cup Playoffs Begin Tonight

Published on September 4, 2013 under International League (IL1) News Release

The International League postseason begins tonight at 7:05 p.m. eastern as four clubs battle for the 2013 Governors' Cup trophy. None of this year's participants are strangers to the coveted postseason prize, as the four teams have combined to win the Governors' Cup 18 times. The defending champion Pawtucket Red Sox are back to defend their title, having captured the IL North Division flag by 3.5 games over the Wild Card winners, the Rochester Red Wings. Rochester survived a neck-and-neck race to the finish with Norfolk, squeaking past the Tides on the season's final day to earn their way into a first round series with the PawSox. The longtime foes, who famously met in baseball's 33-inning "Longest Game" in 1981, haven't faced each other in the postseason since 1997. The North Division rivals last got together just prior to the All-Star break, when Rochester took seven out of eight games played from July 4-14. Their first round series commences this evening at Frontier Field in Rochester, New York.

Meanwhile, the IL's other first round playoff series will get underway 650 miles to the south in Durham, North Carolina. The West Division champion Indianapolis Indians will invade Durham Bulls Athletic Park for a showdown with the League's winningest regular season team. The matchup of the League's top two pitching staffs marks the return to the postseason for Durham after winning division titles each year from 2007 to 2011. The two clubs met eight times in a 13-day June stretch that saw the Bulls win five games. The winner of this series will host Games 1 and 2 when the Governors' Cup finals begin next Tuesday, September 10.

Rochester Clinches With "Wild" Ending on Labor Day

Rochester's hopes for a playoff berth took a serious hit when the club lost eight out of ten games from August 20-30, but when it mattered most the Red Wings came up with three consecutive victories to earn their way into the postseason. Entering the regular season finale on Monday, the Red Wings needed a loss by Norfolk coupled with a victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to secure the Wild Card. The Red Wings wasted little time handling their business, scoring nine times the very first inning on their way to a 13-3 drumming of the RailRiders. When Norfolk came up short 1-0 in extra innings, it became clear Rochester had finally earned just its second playoff berth since last winning the Governors' Cup in 1997. In the past five seasons, just once has the last team to clinch their playoff spot gone on to win the Cup - the 2012 Pawtucket Red Sox.

Meet the Governors' Cup Contenders

Durham Bulls IL SOUTH CHAMPIONS

Led by IL Manager of the Year Charlie Montoyo, the Durham Bulls enter the 2013 postseason with a League-best 87-57 record. They were the IL's most dominant home team (48-24) and remarkably own both the League's highest scoring offense (698 runs scored) and stingiest pitching staff (533 runs allowed). Montoyo is the only manager in this year's postseason to have previously hoisted the Governors' Cup. His Bulls won it in 2009 in the midst of a stretch of five straight division titles under Montoyo. The Bulls hope to become the second International League team to win multiple Triple-A National Championships, following Columbus (2010-11). Durham is 20-17 (.541) in postseason play under Montoyo.

Indianapolis Indians IL WEST CHAMPIONS

After welcoming a Minor League-best 637,579 fans through the gates this season, Victory Field in Indianapolis will host playoff baseball for the second straight September. The West Division title was never in serious doubt for manager Dean Treanor's Indians, with the Tribe ultimately finishing 9.0 games ahead of the sub-.500 Columbus Clippers. Indianapolis dropped their first round series with South Division winner Charlotte last year, but the team earned its first ever repeat appearance in the IL postseason thanks to a pitching staff that posted a 3.45 ERA (2nd in the League). The Indians struggled down the stretch, going a mere 27-36 since June 26. The parent Pirates have never been affiliated with a Governors' Cup champion.

Pawtucket Red Sox IL NORTH CHAMPIONS

The 2012 Governors' Cup champions are trying to become the fourth franchise since 2002 to repeat, following Durham (2002-03), Toledo

(2005-06), and Columbus (2010-11). In his first season at the helm, manager Gary DiSarcina enters the playoffs with arguably the League's hottest team. The PawSox were just 61-59 on August 10, alone in 3rd place in the North, before catching fire down the stretch. Pawtucket closed the regular season by going 19-4, though all 23 games came against clubs that failed to make the postseason. The PawSox scored the third-highest number of runs in the League this season (663) while posting the IL's best team defensive percentage (.982).

Rochester Red Wings WILD CARD WINNERS

Despite posting the League's highest ERA (4.21) and barely scoring more runs (669) than they allowed (664), the Rochester Red Wings won the Wild Card and advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2006. Under the tutelage of manager Gene Glynn, the Red Wings scored the second-highest number of runs in the IL and made it to the playoffs despite winning just 20 of their first 50 games. Rochester had the League's best record in July (20-8) and moved to the forefront of a race between four teams seriously vying for the North Division title. The Red Wings took six out of eight against Pawtucket this season at Frontier Field, where the postseason gets underway this evening. The Twins organization has never won the Governors' Cup.

2013 International League Governors' Cup Playoff Preview

September 4, 2013

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2013 Governors' Cup Playoffs

Durham Bulls vs. Indianapolis Indians

Durham won Season Series 5-3

Game One: Wednesday, September 4 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park - 7:05 p.m.

Game Two: Thursday, September 5 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park - 7:05 p.m.

Game Three: Friday, September 6 @ Victory Field - 7:05 p.m. Game Four: Saturday, September 7 @ Victory Field - 7:05 p.m. *

Game Five: Sunday, September 8 @ Victory Field - 7:05 p.m. *

* denotes "if necessary" - - - all games available on

Playoff History - Indianapolis d. Durham (3-2) in 2000 Governors' Cup First Round.

DURHAM BULLS (87-57) INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (80-64)

Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates

Qualified: South Division Champion (+10.0) Qualified: West Division Champion (+9.0)

Last Time in Playoffs: 2011 Last Time in Playoffs: 2012

Playoff Record: 11 yrs. / 44-30 (.595) Playoff Record: 5 yrs. / 18-16 (.529)

Last Governors' Cup: 2009 Last Governors' Cup: 2000

Manager: Charlie Montoyo (7th season with Bulls) Manager: Dean Treanor (3rd season as Indians mgr.)

Probable Starting Pitchers: Probable Starting Pitchers:

G1: RH Jake Odorizzi (9-6, 3.33 ERA) G1: RH Brandon Cumpton (6-7, 3.32 ERA)

G2: RH J.D. Martin (16-4, 2.75 ERA) G2: RH Graham Godfrey (11-8, 3.93 ERA)

G3: RH Merrill Kelly (8-4, 3.19 ERA) G3: RH Jameson Taillon (1-3, 3.89 ERA)

G4: RH Matt Buschmann (8-2, 2.97 ERA) G4: RH Casey Sadler (11-7, 3.31 ERA at Double-A)

G5: LH Mike Montgomery (7-8, 4.72 ERA) G5: LH Andy Oliver (5-4, 4.05 ERA)

Bulls 2013 Team Statistics & Rankings: Indians 2013 Team Statistics & Rankings:

Runs Scored: 698 (1st) Runs Scored: 622 (5th)

Batting Average: .267 (1st) Batting Average: .255 (8th)

Home Runs: 77 (14th) Home Runs: 105 (8th)

Stolen Bases: 137 (4th) Stolen Bases: 153 (1st)

Runs Allowed: 533 (1st) Runs Allowed: 555 (2nd)

ERA: 3.33 (1st) ERA: 3.45 (2nd)

Strikeouts: 1,246 (1st) Strikeouts: 1,153 (4th)

Shutouts: 9 (T-8th) Shutouts: 10 (T-5th)

Players to Watch: Players to Watch:

RHP J.D. Martin INF Ivan De Jesus

2013 IL Most Valuable Pitcher had franchise-record 16 W. .319 average, 27 doubles in 103 games for Indians.

1B/OF Leslie Anderson 1B Matt Hague

Led Bulls with 14 HR and 74 RBI this season. Led IL in hits for second time in his career (153).

INF Vince Belnome LHP Andy Oliver

IL's All-Star utility player hit .300, 2nd in IL with .408 OBP. Indians staff leader with 138 strikeouts this season.

OF Kevin Kiermaier RHP Graham Godfrey

Hit .298 with 4 doubles, 3 triples over last 17 games. Was 4-3 with Pawtucket before May 31 trade to Pittsburgh.

RHP Kirby Yates INF/OF Russ Canzler

1.90 ERA, led Bulls with 20 saves; 93 punchouts in 61.2 IP. .252, 12 HR for the 2011 IL MVP (with Durham).

2013 Governors' Cup Playoffs

Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings

Rochester won Season Series 9-7

Game One: Wednesday, September 4 @ Frontier Field - 7:05 p.m.

Game Two: Thursday, September 5 @ Frontier Field - 7:05 p.m.

Game Three: Friday, September 6 @ McCoy Stadium - 7:05 p.m. Game Four: Saturday, September 7 @ McCoy Stadium - 6:05 p.m. *

Game Five: Sunday, September 8 @ McCoy Stadium - 1:05 p.m. *

* denotes "if necessary" - - - all games available on

Playoff History - Rochester d. Pawtucket (3-1) in 1986Governors' Cup First Round.

Rochester d. Pawtucket (3-1) in 1996Governors' Cup First Round.

Rochester d. Pawtucket (3-1) in 1997Governors' Cup First Round.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX (80-63) ROCHESTER RED WINGS (77-67)

Affiliate: Boston Red Sox Affiliate: Minnesota Twins

Qualified: North Division Champion (+3.5) Qualified: Wild Card (via Tiebreaker)

Last Time in Playoffs: 2012 Last Time in Playoffs: 2006

Playoff Record: 15 yrs. / 37-51 (.420) Playoff Record: 43 yrs. / 149-155 (.490)

Last Governors' Cup: 2012 Last Governors' Cup: 1997

Manager: Gary DiSarcina (1st season with PawSox) Manager: Gene Glynn (2nd season with Red Wings)

Probable Starting Pitchers: Probable Starting Pitchers:

G1: RH Anthony Ranaudo (3-1, 2.97 ERA) G1: RH Cole De Vries (3-4, 7.02 ERA)

G2: RH Clay Buchholz (9-0, 1.71 ERA with Boston) G2: RH P.J. Walters (7-5, 4.18 ERA)

G3: RH Steven Wright (8-7, 3.46 ERA) G3: LH Pat Dean (3-2, 2.03 ERA)

G4: To Be Determined G4: LH Scott Diamond (4-0, 2.41 ERA)

G5: To Be Determined G5: To Be Determined

PawSox 2013 Team Statistics & Rankings: Red Wings 2013 Team Statistics & Rankings:

Runs Scored: 663 (3rd) Runs Scored: 669 (2nd)

Batting Average: .256 (7th) Batting Average: .258 (5th)

Home Runs: 120 (4th) Home Runs: 114 (T-5th)

Stolen Bases: 101 (T-9th) Stolen Bases: 123 (6th)

Runs Allowed: 615 (9th) Runs Allowed: 664 (14th)

ERA: 3.90 (8th) ERA: 4.21 (14th)

Strikeouts: 1,122 (5th) Strikeouts: 983 (14th)

Shutouts: 13 (T-1st) Shutouts: 10 (T-5th)

Players to Watch: Players to Watch:

OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. SS Eduardo Escobar

Top Red Sox prospect hit .275 with 10 HR in 80 games. Reigning IL Player of the Week had 4 XBH in clincher.

RHP Anthony Carter 1B/DH Jeff Clement

2nd in IL with 24 saves; 79 strikeouts in 62.1 IP. Led Red Wings with 20 RBI in August.

OF Bryce Brentz LHP Scott Diamond

Led PawSox with 17 home runs this season in 82 games. Undefeated southpaw won clincher on Monday.

OF Jeremy Hazelbaker OF Antoan Richardson

5th in IL this season with 37 stolen bases. 14 doubles, 7 triples, 25 steals in 82 Triple-A games.

RHP Anthony Ranaudo RHP Michael Tonkin

G1 starter was 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA at Double-A. Red Wings leader with 14 saves this season.

International League Stories from September 4, 2013

• Bulls Two-Hit Tribe in 2-0 Game 1 Win - Indianapolis Indians
• PawSox Dropped by Rochester 7-1 in Game One - Pawtucket Red Sox
• Bulls Shut out Indians to Take Game One - Durham Bulls
• Durham Bulls Game Notes #ILPlayoffs Game One - Durham Bulls
• Rochester Red Wings Game 1 Governors' Cup Playoff Notes - Rochester Red Wings
• Governors' Cup Playoffs Begin Tonight - IL1

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