IL1 International League

International League News & Notes

Published on July 22, 2010 under International League (IL1) News Release


BUFFALO BISONS www.Bisons.com

BISONS/METS EXTEND AFFILIATION PARTNERSHIP: The Buffalo Bisons and New York Mets announced on Wednesday a two-year extension of their player development contract. The Herd will remain New York's top minor league affiliate through the 2012 season. Twelve of the 25 players currently on the Mets' roster have spent time in Buffalo since the partnership began in 2009. Ike Davis, R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, Elmer Dessens, Chris Carter, Bobby Parnell and Raul Valdes all began the season in Buffalo this year and have become key contributors to the success of the 2010 Mets.

HESSMAN RETURNS: The Bisons got a huge boost to their lineup on Monday as the team activated INF Mike Hessman. Hessman was the International League's top slugger for the first two months of the season. He was placed on the disabled list on June 10 and missed 33 games with a stress fracture in his right hand. Prior to going on the DL, Hessman lead all of baseball with 57 RBI and was tops in the International League with 18 home runs. Despite missing more than a month, Hessman still ranks in the Top 5 in the IL in homers (18 -T-3rd), RBI (58 -4th) and slugging percentage (.598 -2nd).

GOSH GOLLY GEE: Bisons RHP Dillon Gee has struck out 19 batters in his last two starts, including an 11-punchout performance on July 10 in Rochester. Gee has 110 strikeouts on the season, which is tied for 2nd-most in the International League and four shy of his career-high. With over a month left in the season, Gee's 110-strikeout campaign already ranks as the 6th-best total in the Bisons Modern Era. The righty is just 27 short of the club's record of 137, set by RHP Vicente Palacios in 1990. Since June 29, Gee is a perfect 3-0 with a 2.20 ERA with 31 strikeouts and three walks in four starts.

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS www.CharlotteKnights.com

MID-WESTERN TOUR: The Knights are currently in a stretch in which they play 12 consecutive games against IL West Division opponents. The Knights will travel to Indianapolis on Friday for a four game series vs. the Indians followed by four games at Louisville.  Charlotte is 8-11 vs. the IL West Division this season.

STRIKEOUT LEADER: With his seven strikeouts in Monday night's game vs. Louisville, RHP Carlos Torres now leads the IL in punchouts with 112.  This is the first time this season that Torres has led the League in the category.  Torres surpassed former Knights RHP Daniel Hudson for the team lead.  Torres has now totaled

242 strikeouts in the IL over the last two seasons.

WALK THIS WAY: Knights C Tyler Flowers has reached base with a walk in his last six games and has totaled 11 walks during that span.  Flowers had two walks Monday night against the Louisville and one last night.  He has improved his on base percentage from .303 to .334, which is the highest it has been since early June.

MORE FROM MOREL: Knights 3B Brent Morel has hit safely in 19 of his last 23 games.  Morel has 11 multi-hit games this season and has an extra base hit in four of his last eight games.  The 2008 third round pick out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has made just three errors in 45 games for the Knights.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS www.ClippersBaseball.com

TEAM EFFORT: Columbus leads the IL in hitting at .287 (13 points higher than 2nd place, Durham), but has only two players that qualify for the League batting title.  Michael Brantley is currently the League leader at .315, but is set to drop off the board after the team's 103rd game (Wes Hodges is the other qualifier).  The Clippers' .287 average would rank 15th on the individual leader board.

ROAD WARRIOR: Cord Phelps (17 games, .462, 30-65) has the longest active road hitting streak in the IL (one behind Gwinnett's Freddie Freeman for the top spot overall).  In his last 24 games overall, Phelps is hitting at a .404 (36-89) clip, recording a hit in 22 of the 24 games (12 multi-hit games).  Since joining the Clippers, he has gone hitless in only five of 31 games.

STOWELL'S STREAK STOPPED: Last night, Bryce Stowell's scoreless innings streak was snapped at 28.1 innings, spanning 18 games between Akron and Columbus (6.0 IP in four games with the Clippers).  The run allowed last night by Stowell was the first since 5/15, his last appearance with Kinston.  He has allowed an earned run in just four games this season, posting an ERA of 0.82 (54.2 IP, 5 ER, 83 K) in three stops within the Cleveland organization.  Earlier this season, Frank Herrmann had a scoreless streak of 27.1 IP for Columbus.  After giving up a run in his first appearance of the season, Herrmann was flawless during the rest of his time with the Clippers, earning a promotion to Cleveland on 6/4.

DURHAM BULLS www.DurhamBulls.com

RUN LIKE THE BULLS: When Justin Ruggiano stole a base in the seventh inning in last night's 8-6 12-inning loss to Columbus, he helped the Bulls make history.  The team has four players with at least 20 steals (Desmond Jennings, Elliot Johnson, Fernando Perez and Ruggiano) for the first time in Triple-A.  Durham last had four players with at least 20 stolen bases in 1980, when it was the Class-A Carolina League affiliate of the Braves.  That year Durham collected a club-record 293 steals and had four players with at least 30 steals apiece.  Albert Hall had a franchise-record 100 that season.  That club also had future major leaguers Brett Butler and Milt Thompson.  Durham stole two bases last night, and has a League-high 109 steals this year.

ALL-STREAKS MUST END: Columbus won last night's game by scoring two runs in the 12th against Winston Abreu.  They were the first runs Abreu had allowed since May 18th, a span of two months and three days.  Over that stretch he saved 10 games and threw 21.1 scoreless innings.

SEEKING A SOLID START: Since the All-Star Break, the Bulls are 2-5.  That's due in large part to the fact that Durham has not had a starter reach the seventh inning, and have just two quality starts (3 ER or less, 6 IP or more) in seven games. Tonight's starter, Heath Phillips, has one of them. The starters have a 6.69 ERA (26 ER/35.0 IP) since the break.

HOME SWEET HOME?: Durham is still a terrific 32-18 (.640) at home this year.  However, the Bulls have lost four of the team's five home games, three of four since the All-Star break.  Durham's lead over Charlotte is seven games in the South Division.  It's the closest a team has been since June 4th, when Gwinnett was 6.5 games back.

GWINNETT BRAVES www.GwinnettBraves.com

HYDE-ING ON BROADWAY: On 7/20, RHP Michael Broadway had his second scoreless appearance out of the bullpen since being recalled from MISS to join GWN on 7/17. He and M-Braves teammate Lee Hyde (who was recalled the day before Broadway on 7/16) have been solid since being added to the roster. Broadway has yet to allow a run, hit or even a walk in 2.0 IP with 2 K, while LHP Hyde is unscored upon with 3 K in 3.0 IP.

MINOR FEATS: On 7/19, G-Braves LHP Mike Minor extended the impressive start to his Triple-A and Gwinnett career. Minor went 6.0 IP, allowing 2 R/ER and just 1 BB while striking out 5 batters. The 2009 1st round pick by Atlanta is now 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA, 6 BB and 20 K in 18.2 IP - arguably the best-ever 3 game beginning for a G-Braves SP. Current Atlanta starter and former G-Brave Tommy Hanson went 0-2 in 14.2 IP with a 2.45 ERA, 5 BB and 23 K in his first 3 starts for Gwinnett. Earlier this season, staff ace and longtime veteran Chris Resop (currently on the ATL DL) went 0-1 with a 0.61 ERA in 14.2 IP with 9 BB and 19 K in his initial trio of starts.

FREE ON THE ROAD: First baseman Freddie Freeman is having a real time on the current road trip. In 7 games, Freeman is 8-for-28 (.286) with 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R and a SB with 3 two-hit games.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS www.IndyIndians.com

ALEX PRESLEY HAS ENTERED THE BALLPARK: Since Alex Presley was promoted from the Double-A Altoona Curve on June 25, the outfielder has done nothing but impress at the plate. The Triple-A rookie is currently in the midst of a season-best 13-game hitting streak, during which time he has turned in a .460 batting average (23-for-50) with 10 runs scored, four doubles, two triples and four RBI. Presley's 13-game stretch is his longest since he amassed a 14-game hitting streak from June 26 to July 12, 2007 with the Single-A Hickory Crawdads, during which time he hit .426 (29-for-68) with four doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI. Presley's 13-game hitting streak also gives him the longest stretch of consecutive contests with a base knock for the Indians this season, topping the 11-game streaks posted by both C Erik Kratz and OF Jose Tabata earlier this season.

MOSS CONTINUES TO MASH: Indians' OF Brandon Moss has collected at least one hit in 12 consecutive contests, during which time he has posted a .377 batting average (20-for-53) with 11 runs scored, four doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI. Moss' last hitting streak of 12 games or more came in 2008 when he was a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox and recorded at least one hit in 12 consecutive games, amassing a .408 batting average (20-for-49) with 14 runs scored, five home runs and 14 RBI, from May 23 to June 3. The Indians' outfielder has also been one of the most consistent contributors for the Tribe offense this season, as among current players, he leads the team in games played (91), at-bats (333), runs scored (48), hits (87), doubles (20), home runs (14), RBI (56), total bases (151) and stolen bases (8).

EXTRA-BASE THREAT: Since playing in his first game for the Tribe on June 11 against the Pawtucket Red Sox, INF Jeff Clement has been on an extra-base tear for Indianapolis. In 35 games, Clement has recorded 22 total extra-base hits - 13 doubles, one triple and eight home runs - which gives him the second-highest total in that category in the International League since June 11, behind only Columbus Clippers' 3B Jared Goedert's 27 total extra-base knocks. Overall this season for the Indians, Clement has batted .285 (41-for-144) with 21 runs scored, 27 RBI and six walks, while also posting a .556 slugging percentage.

MAJOR LEAGUE IMPACT: In its last five games, the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense has scored 48 total runs, including 47 scores in the team's four victories during that stretch, and a number of 2010 Indianapolis Indians' players have had a hand in the offensive outburst. In the Pirates' last two contests, 3B Pedro Alvarez has broken out with back-to-back two home run games, blasting a grand slam and solo shot on July 20, before collecting a two-run bomb and another solo blast on July 21 to give him eight total RBI in the process. In the 11-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on July 20, INF Neil Walker also put on an offensive show as he went 5-for-5 with a run scored, a double and a walk to raise his batting average to an impressive .311 on the season. Former Indians' OF Jose Tabata has also excelled during the Pirates' recent offensive onslaught, as the speedster has scored eight runs and collected four doubles in five games, while C Erik Kratz came through in his Triple-A debut on July 17 when he went 2-for-5 and scored the eventual game-winning run for the Bucs.

LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS www.IronPigsBaseball.com

BEE-BEES BY BOCOCK!: SS Brian Bocock now has a career-high, 9-game hit streak (13-33, .394-3-14). The streak also includes his first career multi-HR game -- and a career-high 9 total bases -- on 7/17 @ LOU. He has 14 RBI during the streak after just 12 in first 67 G. Before the streak started on July 10, Bocock was just 1-for-24 in his previous eight games.

COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: The 'Pigs fell behind the Indianapolis Indians 8-1 Monday night after two innings before coming all the way back to win 10-8 on a two-out, two-strike, three-run triple by Brian Bocock in the ninth inning. The 7-R comeback was the largest in LHV history. The previous high was 4 R (done 5x; 2x in 2010). By scoring 3 R in the 9th, the Pigs had their 2nd win of 2010 when trailing after 8 innings (4/11 @ SYR; G4 of '10).

WHO ELSE IS HOT: OF John Mayberry has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 G (.471-0-8, 16-34, 3 2B)...... INF Ozzie Chavez has hit in 6 of his last 8 G (11-23, .333-2-3,

6 R)...... OF Chris Duffy has also hit in his last 4 G (6-13, .462-1-4)...... RHP Michael Schwimer hasn't allowed a R in his first 5 Triple-A Gs, going 2-0, 0.00, H (5.2 IP,

4 H, 2 BB, 4 K)...... LHP Antonio Bastardo has not allowed a R in 8 G w/ LHV (2 SV, 0.00, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 11 K)...... RHP Oscar Villarreal has been unscored upon in 16 of his last 19 G (2-2, SV, 3 H, 1.96, 23.0 IP, 7 R, 5 ER; 16-80, .200). His save 6/19 vs. SWB was the 3rd of his pro career (first since 8/5/08).

GREAT SCOTT!: 2010 IL All-Star RHP Scott Mathieson has been unscored upon in 8 of last 9 G (6/27-pres): 1-0, 6 SV, 1.59 (11.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 19 K). With his 2-inning SV on Tuesday, he has now pitched 2.0 IP 9x -- going 2-0, 6 SV, 0.50 (18 IP, 1 ER) in those outings. On 6/18 vs. MIN, made his first ML appearance since 9/3/06.

LOUISVILLE BATS www.BatsBaseball.com

LOUISVILLE SLUGGERS: On Tuesday, the Bats connected on a season-high five home runs and hit nine in the first two games of the series in Charlotte. Michael Griffin hit his first two home runs of the season in the contest and it marked the sixth time that a Bat has hit two home runs in one game this season (Todd Frazier 5/23 vs. SWB, Wladimir Balentien 5/30 vs. GWN, Luis Terrero 6/5 vs. PAW, Juan Francisco 7/6 vs. IND & 7/15 vs. LHV). Their previous team-high for home runs in a game was four, which was accomplished three times (6/28 at NOR, 7/6 vs. IND, 7/19 at CHA). In the eighth inning, Chris Denove and Michael Griffin hit back-to-back home runs, marking the third time that had been accomplished this season. Wilkin Castillo and Todd Frazier went back-to-back on 5/23 vs. SWB and Balentien and Drew Sutton did it on 5/30 vs. GWN. Both, Denove and Griffin entered the game on Tuesday with zero home runs on the season. Balentien also hit a solo shot in the eighth inning yesterday, giving him a team-high 15 on the season. Francisco hit the first home run of the game, a solo shot in the fourth, giving him 13 on the season. He now has four home runs and 11 RBI in his last seven games. Louisville leads the International League with 106 home runs on the season. Durham is second with 104.

ZO-CO N' LIME: The Bats are 8-4 in their last 12 games and a big reason for that success can be attributed to Yonder Alonso and Zack Cozart.  In their last 12games they are batting a combined .357 (30-84). Alonso has recorded at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games played and has six multi-hit games, including a four-hit performance on Monday. He also had a stretch from 6/30 to 7/2 where he had three straight three-hit games. In his last 13 games, he is batting .408 (20-49) with four doubles, two home runs and 7 RBI. On Tuesday his average sat at . 279, which was the highest it had been since he was batting .292 on 5/23. He enters tonight's contest with a .277 average. Cozart, who received a rare day off Tuesday, has hit successfully in 10 of his last 13 games and has six multi-hit games. He is batting .320 (17-53) with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI in his last 13 games. Cozart ranks amongst the League leaders in many categories, including leading in runs scored (65) and at-bats (381). He is tied for third in games played (96), ranks third in hits (100) and third in total bases (170). Defensively, he also ranks as the best shortstop, fielding percentage-wise (.981), in the IL.

LECURE'S THE CURE, AGAIN: Making his first start for Louisville since his complete game shutout on 5/22, RHP Sam LeCure impressed once again. On Sunday night, he pitched seven strong innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs in the win vs. LHV. However, the stat of the day was his 13 strikeouts and zero walks. The 13 strikeouts marked a career-high for LeCure and also marked a season-high for Bats pitchers. LeCure's previous career best was 11 K, which he recorded against Charlotte in August of 2009 as a member of the Bats, and against Double-A West Tennessee in August of 2007 with Chattanooga. The performance also passed Louisville's individual season-high strikeout mark of 11, recorded earlier in the season on 5/18 at Lehigh Valley by Travis Wood.

JULY'S BEEN FLY: After a subpar June that saw the Bats finish with a record of 12-16, things are heating up a bit in July. The Bats have compiled a League-best 13-6 record (SWB is second at 12-6) through their first 19 games and they have already surpassed their win total of the previous month. In June they batted .266 and had a

3.85 ERA, while in July they are batting .275 with a 3.20 ERA.

NORFOLK TIDES www.NorfolkTides.com

WANNA BE LIKE MIKE: With two more home runs last night, Michael Aubrey has now belted seven homers over his last six games, as he's hit .476 (10-for-21) with

16 RBI over that span. Aubrey has homered in three straight games (joining Josh Bell as the only Tides player to homer in three straight games this season), and another home run in today's game would make Aubrey the first Tides batter to homer in four straight games since Mark Johnson accomplished the feat in April, 2000. Aubrey is tied for the IL lead with eight homers in July, and he leads the league with 21 RBI this month. Prior to his six-game homer barrage, the 28-year-old had hit six home runs and driven in 23 runs over his first 61 games this season.

THE GREAT GABINO: Over his last five appearances (including two starts), Armando Gabino has gone 2-0 with one save and a 0.55 ERA (1-ER, 16.1-IP), as he's allowed nine hits and three walks while striking out 15. For the season Gabino has held IL batters to a .208 average, as right-handers have hit just .169 (23-for-136) against him. The 26-year-old has allowed two earned runs or less in 23 of his 24 outings this year, and his current six-game winning streak is a team-high in 2010. Overall, Gabino is 6-0 with two saves and a 2.34 ERA.

ONE SIX PACK, PLEASE: Last night's home runs by Michael Aubrey gave him 13 homers for the season, and he's the fourth Tides batter to reach double digits in home runs this year, joining Jeff Salazar (14), Robert Andino (11) and Josh Bell (10), plus Rhyne Hughes (8) and Nolan Reimold (7) are also closing in on 10 home runs. Since the Tides began playing at Harbor Park in 1993, no Norfolk club has had six different players reach double digits in home runs.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX www.PawSox.com

REVOLVING REHABBERS: The Boston Red Sox sent five players to Pawtucket on injury rehab assignments in the last week or so. RHP Josh Beckett was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two rehab starts. He starts for the Red Sox on Friday night in Seattle. RHP Clay Buchholz went 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in his one rehab start. He started for Boston yesterday (Wednesday) in Oakland. INF Jed Lowrie went 5-for-15 with 3 2B, 1 HR & 4 RBI in 4 rehab games for the PawSox from July 15-19 (1 as the DH, 1 at 3B, 1 at 2B, and 1 at SS). Lowrie, who was activated by the Red Sox on Wednesday, had been on Boston's 60-day disabled list since March 26 with mononucleosis.

OF Jeremy Hermida made his PawSox debut Monday night (going 0-for-4 as the DH) and played LF Tuesday night (1-for-4). Hermida has been on Boston's disabled list since June 10 with five fractured ribs. He is expected to be activated by the Red Sox in the next day or so. The latest to join the PawSox will be INF Mike Lowell who will start an injury rehab assignment tonight when the PawSox host Toledo at McCoy Stadium. Mike will then fly to Columbus on Friday and is expected to play for Pawtucket in Columbus over the weekend and maybe beyond. Lowell has been on Boston's disabled list since June 23 with a strained right hip. In 31 games for Boston this season he was hitting .213 with 2 HR & 12 RBI. Lowell, 36, underwent off-season surgery on his right hip following the 2008 season and underwent surgery to repair a torn radial collateral ligament in his right thumb following the 2009 season. The 2007 World Series MVP (.400 in 4 games), he entered this season with a career major league average of .280 in 1528 games with the Yankees, Marlins, and Red Sox along with 218 HR & 926 RBI. His Red Sox totals coming into 2010 where .295 in 539 games with 75 HR & 348 RBI. In addition, he has hit at least 25 doubles in each of his last 10 Major League season beginning in 2000 and from 2000-2009 he is 5th in the majors with 366 doubles.

THE YOUNG GUNS: Three of the top young Red Sox prospects have had terrific starts in July and for one it led to a promotion to Boston. RHP Michael Bowden, 23, successfully made the transition from starter to reliever and in 5 games (4 RA) in July was 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA. That earned him a call to Boston on Sunday as he became the 16th different PawSox player to be promoted to Boston this season (not including any rehabbing players). 1B Lars Anderson, 22, hit .367 in his first 16 games in July to raise his average from .220 at the end of June to .256. And OF Ryan Kalish, 22, was off to a .370 start in July (13 games) along with 7 SB and was batting .314 since his promotion from Double-A Portland on June 1.

DOWNWARD TREND: Pawtucket has presently lost a season-high 5 in a row. The main culprit has been a lack of offense as the Sox have scored just 4 runs total in their last 4 games (3-0, 4-1, 7-1, and 11-2 losses). Furthermore, the Sox have scored 2 runs or less in each of their last five home games (a 1-0 loss and a 2-1 win just before the break and then 4-1, 7-1 and 11-2 losses to Toledo the past three days). It has pushed the PawSox (43-54) to a season-low 11-games under .500 for the first time since they ended last season with a 61-82 record.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS www.RedWingsBaseball.com

POWER RANKINGS: Shortstop Trevor Plouffe set a new career-high for home runs in a season last night when he hit his 14th of the year in the 4th inning.  Plouffe's previous career-high for home runs in a season was 13 in 2005 when he was playing for Single-A Beloit.  Plouffe's 14 home runs are also the most home runs a Red Wings shortstop has hit in a season since 1996 when shortstop Clay Bellinger hit 15 while leading Rochester to the Governors' Cup Finals (Wings lost 3-0 to Columbus).

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY: For the first time this season the Red Wings starting pitchers have put together three consecutive (7/19-7/21) quality starts (pitcher completes at least six innings and allows no more than three earned runs).  The starters are 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA in these three games.  In 20.0 innings of work, the starters have allowed just six runs (five earned) on 18 hits while walking three and striking out 17.

THE CENTURY MARK: The Red Wings will hit the 100-game mark of the 2010 season today with a losing record (currently 36-63 record).  It will be the third year in a row Rochester has hit the 100-game mark with a below .500 record (2008 46-54 record and 2009 48-52 record).  Since 1990 the Red Wings have had 60 or more wins at the 100-game mark only twice (1990 64-36 record and 1997 61-39 record).

IN ORDER TO BE THE MAN, YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE MAN: The Red Wings have struggled against teams with winning records this season.  Rochester has just a 16-40 record vs. teams with a winning record.  The Wings don't have a winning record vs. any IL teams with a winning record and hold just a 5-23 record vs. teams in the IL North Division with a winning record (Syracuse 1-7 record, Scranton/WB 0-10 record and Buffalo 4-6 record).

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE YANKEES www.SWBYankees.com

ENORMOUS SHOES TO FILL: SWB closer Jonathan Albaladejo has finally got his long overdue call to New York on Tuesday after a season that has seen him be as close to perfect as any closer in recent League history. With 31 saves in 32 opportunities this season, Albaladejo became the single season and franchise record holder for saves and was within shouting distance of the IL record of 38 saves in a single season set by Matt Whiteside of the '04 Richmond Braves. "Alby" has recorded 13 of the last 15 saves recorded by the Yankees bullpen with Zack Segovia (6/24 vs. PAW) and Mark Melancon (6/14 vs. IND) recording the other two. The Yankees lead the IL with 40 saves as a team. Melancon has six, Segovia has three and are the only other Yankees pitchers to save games besides Albaladejo.

HOME COOKING: The Yankees are on pace for another 40+ win season at PNC Field. At 35-18 SWB has the best home field record in the IL this season and should be a lock for the franchise's sixth consecutive season of at least 40 home wins. The last time that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre fell short of winning at least 40 home games in a season was 2004, when the Red Barons finished the season at 35-36. During the current run of five straight 40+ winning seasons at PNC Field, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has an average record of home mark of 44-28. The Yankees have 19 games remaining at PNC Field this season and won't be able to catch the '92 Red Barons who picked up an almost unreachable record of 56-22 record at home. The Barons that season got eight additional home games due to an entire eight game road trip to Richmond and Norfolk getting rained out with all of the games eventually getting played at Lackawanna County Stadium.

FASTEST YANKEES TO DOUBLE DIGITS K'S: David Phelps struck out 10 Toledo Mud Hens in 6.0 innings in his last start on Sunday afternoon making him the 28th pitcher in SWB franchise history to strike out 10 batters in a game and the second to turn the trick this season, joining Dustin Moseley who fanned 10 in back-to-back starts on June 12th and June 18th. Phelps fanned 10 in his third triple-A start for the Yankees matching Phil Hughes who also struck out 10 in his third start with SWB in a game on April 18, 2007 at Syracuse. The most impressive strikeout start for any SWB pitcher is the three game start of former Red Baron Cole Hamels who struck out 14, 12 and 10 in his first three (and only starts) with SWB in 2006.

THE COUNTDOWN TO 1,500: With the 3-2 win over the Mud Hens on Sunday afternoon, SWB Yankee Manager Dave Miley picked up his 1,494th win in his 21st season on the bench and is now six away from 1,500 career wins on the bench. Miley entered the 2010 season with a career record of 1,438-1,089 including a 322-248 (.565) record as the Yankees Triple-A Manager. Since moving with the Yankees from Columbus to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre counting the 2010 season, Miley has posted a 309-215 (.590) record. In his first three seasons as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Manager, the Yankees have had the best record in the IL twice ('07 and '08) and have reached the IL Playoffs in all three seasons and have played in the Governors' Cup Finals in both '08 and '09, claiming the 2008 title. The Yankees have averaged a 84-58 record with Miley as the manager.

SYRACUSE CHIEFS www.SyracuseChiefs.com

OUTSIDE OF THE COMFORT ZONE: Syracuse's next nine games are against teams outside of their division (Norfolk, Durham and Indianapolis). The Chiefs are 21-22 against teams outside the IL North including 14-13 versus the IL South and 7-9 against IL West teams. Syracuse has more divisional wins (33) than anyone else in the IL and they're tied with Columbus for the highest winning percentage against divisional opponents (.600).

NOTHING BUT ZEROS: After Sunday's shutout win over Pawtucket, the Chiefs now have four shutout wins in the month of July, the most they've had in any month this season (two in May and three in June). Syracuse has nine shutouts, tied with Pawtucket for the third highest total in the league behind Louisville and Durham, who are tied for the League lead with 10. Overall, the Chiefs pitching staff has an ERA of 3.78, third best in the IL (again behind Louisville and Durham).

14-IN-A-ROW FOR CHICO: Chiefs starter Matt Chico tossed seven shutout innings in Sunday's 3-0 win versus Pawtucket, giving the left-hander a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. He hasn't given up a run since July 5 against Buffalo and his ERA in July is only 1.80. Chico's ERA in June was 3.82 and his May ERA was 5.00.

ORDAZ TO THE RESCUE: Since returning from the disabled list on July 17, infielder Luis Ordaz has put up a .437 batting average in four games played. He hit his first home run of the season in Tuesday night's game in Norfolk. The 34-year-old is hitting .341 in 15 games for the Chiefs this year.

TOLEDO MUD HENS www.MudHens.com

IL HONOR: OF/1B Jeff Frazier was named IL Batter of the Week for the period from July 15-18.  Frazier led the International League with three home runs and a 1.286 slugging percentage in the recently completed All-Star shortened week.  He was also second in the IL with eight hits and a .571 batting average.  After appearing in the Triple-A All-Star Game Wednesday as the starting left fielder for the International League, Frazier was 0-2 on Thursday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  He then proceeded to go 8-12 in the remaining three games of the series, blasting three home runs, driving in six runs, and scoring four more.  Frazier is now 2nd in the League this season with 20 homers and 61 RBI.

HESSMAN RETURNS: Buffalo 3B Mike Hessman, who spent five seasons (2005-2009) with the Mud Hens, returns to Fifth Third Field this weekend for the Bisons' only visit to Toledo on the year.  Hessman will be honored on the field before the game on Sunday.

HEN EGGS: INF Will Rhymes is batting .376 (38-for-101) with 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 12 RBI over his last 25 games...... 1B/OF Ryan Strieby has hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games, batting .300 (21-for-70) with seven doubles, a home run and eight RBI...... OF Jeff Frazier is hitting .417 (10-for-24) with a double, four home runs and nine RBI over his last six games...... RHP Brendan Wise has posted a 0.79 ERA (11.1 IP/1 ER) over his last six outings.

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International League Stories from July 22, 2010


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