IL1 International League

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May 26, 2005 - International League (IL1) News Release


BUFFALO BISONS
HERE COMES THE HOMERS: The Bisons have hit 11 home runs in their last three games, taking over the International League lead with 64 long balls on the year. Outfielder Ernie Young has led the charge with five homers in a six-game stretch from May 18-23. Infielder Jake Gautreau is second on the team with nine, while Andy Abad and Jeff Liefer have each hit seven. The recent power has also given Buffalo the highest slugging percentage in the IL at .467.

GAUTREAU NAMED PLAYER OF THE DECADE: Bisons infielder Jake Gautreau was named Conference USA's Player of the Decade. Gautreau, a member of the Tulane University Green Wave from 1999-2001, is the only two-time C-USA Player of the Year (2000, 2001). He ranks in the top 15 in six different offensive categories, including third in home runs (58). Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1st round (14th overall) in 2001, Gautreau came over to the Indians organization in a trade for infielder Corey Smith prior to the 2005 season. He is currently hitting .283 for the Bisons and is second on the team with nine home runs.

MARTY BROWN TO LEAD IL ALL-STARS: Bisons manager Marty Brown has been selected to lead the IL All-Stars against the Pacific Coast League in the 18th annual Triple-A All-Star Game, July 13 at Raley Field in Sacramento, California. Brown is in his third season with the Bisons. Last season, Brown guided the Herd to an 83-61 regular season mark on the way to the Governors' Cup championship. After the 2004 season, he was named International League Manager of the Year and Baseball America's Minor League Manager of the Year. As a member of the Nashville Sounds, Brown played in the first ever Triple-A All-Star game, which was held on July 13, 1988 in Buffalo at then-Pilot Field.

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS
GLOAD TO MEET YOU...AGAIN: Ross Gload spent the 2003 season with the Knights where he batted .315 (160-508) with 18 home runs and 70 runs batted in. Gload led the International League with 64 extra base hits in 2003 and was also named to the mid and post season All-Star teams. Gload was placed on the disabled list April 30 with left shoulder inflammation, at which time Charlotte infielder Pedro Lopez was called up in order to fill his roster position. Gload went 2-5 in his debut with the Knights on May 23 against Buffalo, and was 1-3 and scored two of the Knights runs in the victory over the Bisons the following night. Then in his return to Knights Stadium yesterday, Gload went 1-3 and has now hit safely in his first three games back with Charlotte.

THE BIG HURT: Frank Thomas joined the Knights last week as they started an 8-game road trip. Thomas appeared in 7 of the 8 games in Ottawa and Buffalo, batting .240 (6-25) with a double and 2 runs scored. Thomas returned home to Charlotte yesterday but went 0-4 in his Knights Stadium debut. So far in his rehab assignment Thomas is hitting .207 (6-29). In his 15 major league seasons, Thomas is a career .308 hitter with 436 home runs.

MCCARTHY IMPRESSIVE IN MLB DEBUT: Brandon McCarthy made his Major League debut Sunday as the Chicago White Sox battled the cross-town rival Cubs, but earned no decision. McCarthy pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out 6 and walking 1 while allowing only 2 earned runs. McCarthy had started 8 games for the Knights prior to his call to the show, with a 3-4 record and a 4.72 ERA. His 61 strikeouts were also tops in the International League at the time of his promotion, though he has since moved to second place behind Ian Snell of Indianapolis who now has 64.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS
CROZIER CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS: Columbus, Ohio native and 1996 graduate of Columbus Independence High School Eric Crozier was claimed just before clearing waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Crozier was in Columbus with his former Syracuse teammates as they took on the Clippers Tuesday afternoon. He has since been assigned to Trenton of the Eastern League. If he plays for the Clippers he will be the first Columbus native to don a Clippers uniform since 1988 when OF Casey Close played. Crozier was an outstanding pitcher for Independence, earning All-State honors as a senior. He was also a star on the basketball team, which included future college standouts Kenny Gregory (Kansas) and George Reese (Ohio State).

VOYLES ADJUSTING TO THE STARTING ROLE NICELY: Since being inserted into the starting rotation April 27, Brad Voyles has found his groove. Over six starts he has posted a 4-0 record with a 1.72 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Voyles has seen his season ERA dip all the way to 2.72, currently good enough for seventh in the IL. He has also tied his career high in wins with five.

DALE JR. SHOW CAR AT THE COOP: The Clippers will end the longest homestand of the season in style this Friday. On May 27 the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Show Car will be on display before and during the Clippers game against the Toledo Mud Hens. Following the game will be a fireworks display.




DURHAM BULLS
CHANGES: Two Durham Bulls were released this week. Steve Cox, the IL MVP in 1999, was hitting .210 this season with 3 HR and 9 RBI in 19 games. RHP Brian Sweeney, who was expected to exercise his June 1 out clause, was 3-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 starts.

WEBB GEM: Starter John Webb has given the Bulls back-to-back starts of eight innings. Webb is the only Durham pitcher to complete eight innings of work this season.

IF YOU LIKE OFFENSE: This weekend's four-game series between Durham and Pawtucket features the two highest scoring teams in the International League. Durham and the PawSox have averaged a total of 10.9 runs per game. Despite being number one in the IL in runs scored, the Bulls are hitting only .255 at hitter friendly Durham Bulls Athletic Park, .289 on the road.

DOWN DEFENSIVELY: Durham has committed 65 errors in the team's first 46 games this season. Those miscues have led to 55 unearned runs. For the entire 2004 season, the Bulls gave up only 83 unearned runs.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
DUKE DOMINATES THE COMPETITION: Indianapolis left-hander Zach Duke has dominated opponents in his last three outings, posting a 3-0 record and 0.76 ERA. The 22-year-old has allowed just two earned runs, three walks and 15 hits while striking out 14 in 23.2 innings during the stretch. Pittsburgh's top prospect became the International League's first eight-game winner with the victory in Monday night's affair at Durham (7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO). Duke is 8-2 on the season with a 2.92 ERA in 10 starts. He has limited left-handed hitters to a .174 batting average (8-for-46), while yielding just a .238 BAA (20-for-84) with runners on base.

SNELL TURNS UP THE HEAT: Indians right-hander Ian Snell improved to 7-0 on the season with the win over Charlotte on Wednesday night (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO). The 23-year-old silenced the Knights by retiring the first 13 batters he faced. Snell, who has already been named the International League's Pitcher of the Week on two occasions, has registered a microscopic 0.82 ERA and yielded just a .097 batting average against over his last three starts. He currently ranks first in the IL in strikeouts (64) and second in wins.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST ONE MONTH: Indianapolis hasn't lost back-to-back games since April 26-27 when Columbus posted back-to-back wins over the Indians at Victory Field.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FOUR-GAME SETS: The Indians have not lost a four-game series since April 15-18 when Norfolk took three of four from the Tribe at Harbor Park. In five four-game sets during the month of May, Indianapolis has won four (3-1 at COL, 3-1 vs. RICH,
3-1 vs. NOR, 3-1 at DUR), lost none and tied just one (2-2 at PAW).

PLEASE DON'T CHARGE US FOR THEFT: Indianapolis has collected 52 stolen bases in 46 games, an average of 1.13, which leads all of Triple-A Baseball. The 2005 Indians are on pace to swipe 166 bases, a total which would eclipse the Victory Field single-season record of 131 (set in 1996). From an individual standpoint, OF Nate McLouth is tied for fourth in the International League with 12 thefts. So far this season, a total of 13 different Indians have stolen at least one base.

LOUISVILLE BATS
LET THE TRANSACTIONS BEGIN: The Bats have had major movement the past two weeks, with nine transactions since May 13. IF Gary Patchett was promoted from Double-A Chattanooga and LHP Andy Van Hekken was signed to a Minor League contract May 13. IF Luis Lopez had his contract purchased by Cincinnati May 20. LHP Randy Keisler had his contract purchased by Cincinnati and IF Santiago Perez was promoted from Chattanooga May 23. OF Jason Romano had his contract purchased by Cincinnati May 25. OF Stephen Smitherman was sent to Chattanooga May 26, while OF Chris Denorfia and OF Alex Fernandez were promoted from Chattanooga the same day.

KELLY STILL ON FIRE: Besides having a 16-game hitting streak in which he batted .413 from April 27-May 16, OF Kenny Kelly recently had a 21-game on-base (April 27-May 21) streak snapped May 22. During the month of May, Kelly is batting .380 with four doubles, 18 runs scored and seven RBI. On the season, the former University of Miami quarterback is batting a team high .331, which is tied for 8th in the IL among batting leaders. His 25 runs scored also leads the team.

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY: In honor of Memorial Day, 104-year-old Robley Rex, a World War I veteran, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday, May 29. Mr. Rex is the oldest living veteran in the state of Kentucky and the third oldest in the country. Also in attendance will be the Commanding General of Ft. Knox, Major General Terry Tucker along with approximately 1,500 soldiers from the base. Pregame festivities will commemorate veterans of the Vietnam Conflict and the Iraqi War.

NORFOLK TIDES
PAGAN ON FIRE: Tides' centerfielder Angel Pagan had two hits in five at-bats Tuesday afternoon, boosting his average for the month of May to .309 (25-for-81). Pagan is second on the club with 25 hits and 13 runs scored in the month, and is also leading the club this month with five stolen bases. Pagan already has three home runs this season, one short of his career-high that he set in 2004 with Double-A Binghamton.

STEADY IN THE SOUTH: Since a Norfolk win April 28 put the Tides ahead 3 games in the IL South Division, the Tides have not led the division by more than 5 games or less than 3 games. Norfolk is currently 5 games up on second place Durham.

BIG INNING BONANZA: In a span of three games at Harbor Park, there were two seven-run innings and a nine-run inning. The Tides scored nine runs in their 11-5 win over Richmond May 18, and after two games in Richmond, the next two games at Harbor Park saw Pawtucket score seven runs in consecutive games on May 21 and 22.
OTTAWA LYNX
WHEN IT RAINES IT POURS: Going into action on May 26, Lynx veteran OF Tim Raines Jr. is riding a 12-game hitting streak in which he is batting .356 (16-for-45). The streak included home runs in back-to-back games (May 10-11 at Charlotte). Raines' recent hot hitting has seen his average climb 47 points (.196 to .243). The 12 games leaves him one short of the club's season-high of 13 set by Alejandro Freire (April 11-26). The 25-year old also leads all of Minor League Baseball with 13 sacrifice bunts.

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME: Since being promoted to the Lynx from Double-A Bowie on May 12, OF Eugene Kingsale has fit right in with the IL's top offensive team. The veteran recorded a hit in each of his first 8 games with the club, posting a .480 (12-for-25) batting average during that time. The 28-year old has already recorded 4 multi-hit games with Ottawa.

STORY OF THE WEEK: With a 14-3 record and a 3.85 ERA, the Lynx bullpen has been a strong point for the club all season long. However, their importance was never more evident than in the past week. During the Lynx 4-1 week, the pen worked 12.0 IP and allowed just 1 run (0.75 ERA). The highlight of the week occurred May 20 vs. Charlotte. Left-handed reliever Brian McNichol made a spot start in place of RHP James Baldwin, who was recalled by the Orioles. The southpaw worked a solid 4.0 innings, allowing just one run on two hits. RHP Andy Mitchell then tossed 3 scoreless innings before giving way to RHP Aaron Rakers, who threw a scoreless 8th and 9th to secure the 5-1 victory. LHP Tim Byrdak also continued his impressive season, recording 3 saves in the Lynx past 5 games.

SCORE EARLY AND SCORE OFTEN: Lynx INF Bernie Castro finds himself tied for the League-lead in runs scored (34). The 25-year old has scored more often (once every 1.176 games) than anyone else in the IL. Remarkably, 12 of his 34 runs have come in the first inning.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS: Ottawa had their sixth game of the year postponed due to rain on Tuesday in Richmond. In the entire 2004 season, Ottawa had only three games postponed due to weather.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX
A MINOR ADJUSTMENT FOR A MAJOR PLAYER: This Monday the PawSox activated first baseman John Olerud who had signed a Minor League contract with the Red Sox on May 1. Olerud, 36, had been working out in extended spring training in Florida while recovering from offseason foot surgery. (Ironically, he suffered the injury playing for the Yankees during Game 3 of last October's ALCS at Fenway Park, and his loss was a key factor in the Red Sox comeback from 3-0 to beat the Yanks). Olerud is a career .295 hitter with 248 homers and 1,193 RBI in 2,147 games over 15-plus seasons with the Blue Jays, Mets, Mariners and Yankees. His entire professional career had been spent in the Major Leagues as he made the jump directly from Washington State University when he was drafted in the 3rd round by the Blue Jays in 1989. That changed this week when John played in the first two Minor League games of his illustrious career this past Monday and Tuesday in Norfolk (going 3-for-8 with 1 HR & 2 RBI for the PawSox). Olerud was one of 17 players since the 1965 draft to make his professional debut in the Major Leagues. He and two others (Bob Horner and Dave Winfield) never played a Minor League game – until John did so on May 23.

A STERN WARNING: The Boston Red Sox today sent OF Adam Stern to Pawtucket to begin a 20-day injury rehab assignment. Stern, 25, has been on Boston's disabled list since March 25 after suffering a fractured right thumb sliding into 2nd base during spring training. (He played in just two games going 1-for-2 before suffering the injury). He was selected by the Red Sox in the Major League Rule 5 Draft from the Atlanta Braves last December. The London, Ontario native was a Southern League All-Star last season playing for the Double-A Greenville Braves where he hit .322 in 102 games with 8 HR, 47 RBI and 27 SB. He was promoted to Richmond for the IL Playoffs last September and hit .357 in 9 post-season games for the R-Braves. A former standout at the University of Nebraska (First-Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2001) he was a 3rd round pick of the Braves in the 2001 draft.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO BREAK EVEN: For the fourth time this season the Pawtucket Red Sox have a chance – with a victory tonight – to reach the .500 mark for the first time all year when they open a 4-game series against the Durham Bulls at 7:00 pm at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The PawSox – who have won 6 of their last 9 games – are 22-23 on the season. The previous three times the Sox were on the verge of the .500 plateau they lost that next game – April 8 (when they were 0-1), May 13 (16-17), and May 23 (when they had a 21-22 record). They have not been at .500 all season and have been a season-low 5-games below. 500 on five different occasions.

RICHMOND BRAVES
DOUBLE (TRIPLE) YOUR FUN: The Braves turned their first triple play in over four years Monday night, (last triple play 4/30/01 vs. Charlotte) helping offset the three double plays turned by Ottawa in seven innings Monday. The Braves have hit into 11 double plays in the four games of the homestand, including three in a game (tying a season high) three times.

BRAVES MAKING IMPACT IN ATLANTA: Kyle Davies won his Major League debut vs. Boston Saturday and came back to beat the New York Mets Wednesday. Davies, who was 2-1 (4.78 ERA) in eight starts with Richmond, has worked 10.1 innings for Atlanta without allowing a run and has 12 strikeouts. Davies is one of four players who opened the season with Richmond who are now with Atlanta. Brayan Pena, the IL's leading hitter when he was called up to Atlanta Friday, picked up his first big league hit in his first start vs. the Mets Monday.

DON'T MESS WITH THE PEN: The Braves bullpen has allowed only six earned runs in 35.2 innings over the last nine games. The bullpen ERA in the last nine games is 1.52. Jeremy Ward has four consecutive outings without allowing an earned run over 7.2 innings. Chris Mears has worked five straight appearances over five innings without allowing an earned run. Hector Almonte has four straight outings without allowing an earned run over 9.1 innings. The Braves are 15-0 when leading after seven innings.

YOU CAN TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A PROGRAM: The Braves roster has undergone no changes in the last 48 hours after the Braves made 10 moves in three days. The roster stands at 24 (12 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders). The Braves have four players on the DL: 1B Carlos Mendez, RHP Jason Childers, RHP Kevin Barry, and RHP Buddy Hernandez.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS
THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN: Red Wings closer Travis Bowyer has been very impressive during the month of May, going 0-1 with nine saves and a 1.69 ERA in 11 games. In 16.0 innings of work, Bowyer has allowed just three runs on eight hits while walking eight and striking out 24. Bowyer has allowed just three runs in his last 17 appearances and opponents are batting just .145 (8-for-55) against him in the month of May.

DON'T SHUT ME OUT: The Red Wings have yet to be shut out this season. This is the longest the Wings have gone into a season (46 games) without being shut out since 1990. In 1990 the Wings didn't get shut out until their 64th game (3-0 loss at Omaha). The losing pitcher for the Wings that night was RHP Curt Schilling.

THIS PLATE IS MADE OF CHINA: The Red Wings offense has scored just 18 runs (2.6 runs per game) the last seven games. Rochester has scored three or less runs in five of those seven games. For the season the Red Wings have scored three or fewer runs 17 times (4-13 record in those 17 games).

HAPPY DAYS (IN THE DIVISION) ARE HERE AGAIN: Rochester goes into today's game with a 17-13 record against North Division opponents this season. Since the IL went to three divisions in 1998, Rochester has not had a winning divisional record. Their last winning divisional record came in 1997 when the Wings played in the IL East division.

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE
NOT QUITE JOEL YOUNGBLOOD: On August 4, 1982 Joel Youngblood became the first Major League player to get hits for two different teams on the same day when he accomplished the feat for the New York Mets and Montreal Expos. Now ex-Red Barons catcher Tim Gradoville almost accomplished the feat at the Minor League level. On Tuesday, playing in an 11:30 a.m. school day special vs. Louisville, he grounded out as a pinch-hitter. After the game he was optioned to Double-A Reading, just a short 2 hour drive away. He arrived in time to be used as a pinch-hitter vs. Harrisburg and responded with an 8th inning triple.

WILL CLAY BE #2: Clay Condrey will try and become just the second Red Barons starter to record a road win this season when he faces the Richmond Braves tonight. Robinson Tejeda so far has been the only starter with a road win, recorded May 4 at Buffalo. Overall, the Red Barons are just 4-13 on the road with a 1-10 record from the starting staff.

ALMOST AT THE TOP: Jim Rushford is now 2nd in the International League with a .364 batting average. That's pretty impressive when you consider he started the season 3-26 (.115). Since then the 2004 IL All-Star is batting .427 (44-103) and has reached base in 29 straight games.

SYRACUSE SKYCHIEFS
COMINGS AND GOINGS: This week saw many changes to the SkyChiefs roster. Shortstop Aaron Hill had his contract purchased by the Blue Jays last Friday after third baseman Corey Koskie went on the DL with a fractured thumb. To make room for Hill on the Blue Jays 40-man Roster, first baseman Eric Crozier was Designated for Assignment and was claimed by the New York Yankees on Tuesday and assigned to Double-A Trenton. To replace Hill on the SkyChiefs roster, Danny Solano, who had been on the Disabled List since April 23, was activated from the DL. Third baseman John Hattig, who was supposed to begin the year with the SkyChiefs, was promoted from Dunedin on Monday where he was recovering from an injury suffered at the end of Spring Training. To make room for Hattig, outfielder Justin Singleton was sent to Double-A New Hampshire. Tuesday Gabe Gross was recalled by Toronto to replace Frank Catalanotto, who is on bereavement leave. Wednesday Andy Dominuqe was outrighted to Syracuse when Greg Zaun was activated from the DL.

HILL FINDING SUCCESS IN BIG LEAGUES: Aaron Hill has made an immediate impact for Toronto after having his contract purchased last week. Hill has started 5 games and is hitting .474 (8-18) with two doubles, two triples and six RBI.

TOLEDO MUD HENS
FIRST THINGS FIRST: With the Mud Hens battling for first place in the IL West, the upcoming Memorial Day holiday does not seem to be much anticipated around Toledo. 1969, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1997, 2002 and 2004 are the only years that the Hens controlled first place at any point after Memorial Day. Interestingly enough, not once during those seven seasons did the Hens have a lead greater than 3.5 games.

"GOOD" MORNING, ANDREW: With the Hens wrapping up their "School Day" games on Tuesday, May 24, there is one man in particular who is wondering what it's like to play after noon. RHP Andrew Good has only started in three games at home this year, each of those beginning at 10:30 am. Good has yet to pitch at Fifth Third Field past 12:30 in the afternoon.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER: With the school year coming to an end, the Hens played in their final 10:30 am "School Day" of the season. With 37,012 students, teachers, chaperones and fans enjoying four days at the ballpark, the Hens concluded the early morning portion of the schedule on May 24 with a loss to the Rochester Red Wings. The Hens finished the four-game stretch with a 3-1 record, improving the all-time record on "School Days" to 11-4 in the history of the promotion that began in 1999.

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International League Stories from May 26, 2005


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