International League names players of the week
Published on May 31, 2005 under International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Buffalo's Andy Abad and Toledo pitcher Jason Grilli have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for the period from May 23-29. Abad becomes the second Bisons player to win the weekly award, following Mike Kinkade (May 2-8). Grilli is the first member of the Toledo Mud Hens to win an IL weekly award this year.
Versatility has been the name of the game this season for Buffalo slugger ANDY ABAD, who is finding every way he can to crack the hot hitting lineup of the North Division leading Bisons club. He's played LF, RF, 1B, and DH this season, but this week it was his bat that turned heads across the IL. Andy was supposed to receive a day off May 23 against Charlotte, but a 7-7 extra inning affair caused Manager Marty Brown to pinch hit Abad in the bottom of the 11th. With two out and two on, Andy crushed the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a walk off three-run blast. The next night he tried his best to repeat his heroics, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the 9th, but it wasn't enough as the Bisons lost 5-4 to the Knights. Abad was an impressive 3-4 with a double, a home run, and 2 RBI on the evening. Buffalo's week concluded with a four game set in Rochester, where Andy's hot hitting helped the Bisons take 3 of 4 for the series victory. By week's end the defending Governors' Cup Champions enjoyed a 4.0 game lead in the IL North. Abad's bat came alive this week as he hit .444 (8-18) with 2 HR, 7 RBI, and an impressive .889 slugging percentage. He has been among the League leaders in RBI all season.
The 32-year-old infielder/outfielder is no stranger to the International League. He played for Pawtucket in 1997-99 and again in 2003, when he led the League with 93 RBI and was named to the post season IL All-Star team. In his 13-year professional career, Abad has seen time in the Japanese Pacific League as well as playing 10 Major League games with Oakland (2001) and Boston (2003). He spent the 2004 season with Triple-A Nashville, hitting .292 with 12 HR and 49 RBI in 99 games.
This week Toledo pitcher JASON GRILLI became just the fourth starter in the IL this season to toss a shutout. His gem came Friday, May 27 as the Mud Hens visited division rival Columbus. While his Toledo teammates came out strong against Clippers starter Pete Munro, Grilli quietly put down Columbus hitters inning after inning. After scattering three hits in the first three frames, Jason did not allow another hit until the 8th, a harmless two-out single by Felix Escalona. A quick 9th inning sealed the 6-0 victory for Toledo, giving Grilli his third win of the season in one of the most impressive starts by an IL hurler this year. He allowed just 4 hits, striking out 8 with no walks in the 9-inning shutout. It would be the first of three straight victories for Toledo, helping them jump ahead to a 0.5 game lead over Indianapolis in the hotly contested IL West Division. Grilli's 3.04 ERA is the 9th best among all IL hurlers through the first two months of the season.
The 28-year-old right-hander was originally drafted by the Giants in 1998, but spent most of his professional career in the Florida organization, including seven games with the Marlins in 2000-01 in which he went 3-2. He spent the 2004 season with the White Sox organization, playing the bulk of the year in Charlotte where he went 9-9 with a 4.83 ERA. He earned a late-season promotion to Chicago, going 2-3 in 8 starts for the White Sox. This offseason he signed with Detroit and was assigned to the Toledo Mud Hens, where his father Steve also played during the 1972-73 seasons.
International League Stories from May 31, 2005
- Indians Tie Victory Field Record With 22 Hits In 15-1 Victory Over Louisville - Indianapolis Indians
- Clippers Henn Throws Two-hitter In 2-0 Victory - Ottawa Lynx
- Person solid in 3-2 win - Charlotte Knights
- Jason Grilli Named International League Pitcher of the Week - Toledo Mud Hens
- International League names players of the week - IL1
- Braves lose in Rochester - Gwinnett Stripers
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