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IL1 International League

International League News and Notes

June 8, 2006 - International League (IL1) News Release


BUFFALO BISONS
BUFFALO BIRD MAKES NATIONAL HEADLINES: A Western New York seagull made headlines throughout the country this week with his appearance in the Bisons' game against the Durham Bulls on Sunday at Dunn Tire Park. In the 11th inning of the second game of a doubleheader, a seagull was hit by a pitch from the Bulls' Jason Childers as he delivered to Herd infielder Ramon Vazquez. By Wednesday, the play had been shown on CNN, FoxNews the Today Show and ESPN. Tony Kornheiser even portrayed the seagull in the "Role Play" segment of ESPN's, "Pardon the Interruption."

WALK-OFF WINNERS: The Bisons had a pair of walk-off victories this past week. On Friday night against Durham, Jason Cooper launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning for a 4-2 Herd win. Then on Tuesday, Kelly Shoppach led off the bottom of the 10th with a solo home run to give Buffalo a 5-4 victory over Toledo. Ben Francisco hit the Bisons' first walk-off homer this year with a solo shot in the 11th inning on April 15 against Columbus. On the season, the Herd is 6-4 in extra-inning games.

QUICK START FOR SHOPPACH: Catcher Kelly Shoppach got just 16 at-bats in almost two months with the Cleveland Indians. Since being optioned to the Bisons on May 20, he's showing what he can do with some regular playing time. He went 0-3 in his Herd debut, but after that has hit in nine consecutive games. During the hit streak, he has averaged .333 (13-39) with eight of the 13 hits going for extra bases (five doubles, three home runs). In the 10 total games in Buffalo, Shoppach has posted a .643 slugging percentage and a 1.012 ops.

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS
COMING AND GOING: Prior to the game on Wednesday night against the Richmond Braves the Chicago White Sox/Charlotte Knights made six roster moves. The White Sox recalled RHP Sean Tracey. With Charlotte, Tracey went 5-3 with a 3.18 ERA (22 ER/62.1 IP) and 49 strikeouts in 15 games (nine starts). RHP Hideo Nomo was activated off the disabled list and released, appearing in only one game with the Knights this season. OF Damian Rolls and INF Tim Hummel were both released yesterday. INF Andy Gonzalez was activated off the DL and INF Bobby Smith was signed as a free agent. Smith spent the 2005 season with Sacramento of the PCL and spent the 2004 season with the Charlotte Knights where he batted .272 (138-508) with 37 doubles, 28 home runs and 89 RBI.

A YEAR AGO TODAY: By the end of the day on June 8, 2005, the Knights had lost to the Louisville Bats making their record 19-39 putting them securely in fourth place, 13.5 games behind the leader. This year, however, the Knights are 42-16 securely in first place of the International League South Division. Last season the Knights were unable to pick up their 42nd win until August 5, after defeating the Durham Bulls.

SAVING THE DAY: Jeff Farnsworth currently has 12 saves, 2nd best in the IL right behind Julio Manon of Ottawa, who has a total of 13 saves. Javier Lopez currently has 9 saves, which is good enough for 7th in the IL. Both Farnsworth and Lopez are perfect in save opportunities. So far this season the Knights have a total of 20 saves compared to last season's total of 30. Jeff Bajenaru led the team with 19 saves during the 2005 season. This season Bajenaru currently has 6 saves for Tuscon (PCL).

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS
NEW FACES: The Clippers roster continues to evolve almost daily for manager Dave Miley. Columbus had 36 roster changes in May and has had 14 roster moves in the first week of June. Three new faces in the Clippers lineup are catcher Ben Davis, first baseman Erubiel Durazo and pitcher Steven White.
Davis is a veteran catcher who has spent the spring rehabbing in Tampa. A Chester, PA. native, Ben is a eight-year Major League veteran with the Padres, Mariners and White Sox. Ben was the first round draft choice (second overall) of San Diego in the 1995 draft. A highly regarded defensive receiver, the 29-year-old is a rarity in catching... a switch hitter.
White is a 6'5" right handed starting pitcher. Selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, Steven has worked his way up the Yankees chain the last three seasons. His record this season with Trenton is 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 11 games. The League City, TX native has 45 strikeouts and 24 base on balls in 68.1 innings. Baseball America ranks the 24-year-old as the Yankees #4 prospect.
Durazo is a ten-year veteran. The portsider has a .281 average in seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Diamondbacks and the A's. The Hermosillo, Mexico native's top season was 2004 when he hit .321 with 35 doubles, 22 home runs and 88 RBI with Oakland. He was with the Oklahoma RedHawks earlier this season. The 30-year-old has a .346 lifetime Minor League batting average.

DURHAM BULLS
BYE BYE BALDELLI: He missed 20 months without playing in a single Major League game, but it didn't show in his two-week rehab assignment with Durham. OF Rocco Baldelli, sent back to Tampa Bay yesterday, was hitting .404 through 12 games with Durham. Baldelli hit in 10 of 11 games in which he played the entire contest, and was 19-47 (.404) with two walks, seven runs scored, and four RBI. The 24-year-old was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year in 2002, when he was part of the Governors' Cup Championship team that season. Baldelli missed all of last year with an ACL tear and recovery from Tommy John surgery. He currently is coming back from a hamstring injury suffered in spring training. Baldelli has a career Major League average of .285 with 27 HR and 152 RBI in two seasons with Tampa Bay. He batted .292 with 3 HR and 7 RBI in 23 games with Durham in 2002. Baldelli could have stayed through Sunday if the Devil Rays chose to do so.
WITT WHACKS: Kevin Witt had his first two-homer game of the season on Tuesday afternoon in Rochester, going 4-4 with a double and a walk. Witt leads the IL with 16 HR and 42 RBI.

ALSO ON TOP: In addition to Witt, B.J. Upton leads the IL with 24 stolen bases, and Elijah Dukes has a League-high five triples.

EXTRA-EXTRA: A total of three of Durham's first four games on its current eight-game road trip went to extra innings. Sunday's game went 16 innings, and that was Game 2 of a doubleheader with Buffalo.

TAMARGO RETURNS: Bulls manager John Tamargo returned from a 10-game suspension on Saturday, only to see the game rained out and then play 23 innings Sunday in a doubleheader. The Bulls won both games and are 2-3 since his return. Durham was 5-5 during his suspension.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE: Indianapolis has been in first place since April 23 -- a span of 47 days. It's the longest streak since April 8-June 4, 2004, when the Tribe sat atop the International League's West Division for 58 consecutive days.

FLASHING THE LEATHER: Indianapolis leads the International League lead with a .985 fielding percentage (1,568 PO, 629 A, 33 E). The Indians have collected 35 errorless games this season, going 20-15 in those contests.

AMONG THE IL LEADERS: Indians RHP Brandon Duckworth leads the International League in wins (8), while LHP Tom Gorzelanny paces the circuit in strikeouts (72). Duckworth also ranks sixth in ERA (2.42). From an offensive standpoint, OF Rich Thompson is third in on-base percentage (.416) and ninth in batting average (.310). On the base paths, OF Rajai Davis is tied for third in stolen bases (17).

THEY CAN'T KEEP HIM OFF BASE: Indians INF Chris Richard has reached base safely in 23 consecutive games (.276, 21-76, 7 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 12 R, 18 RBI, 12 BB, 14 SO). The 32-year-old is hitting .243 with five long balls and 21 RBI in 34 games this season.

GONZALEZ SWINGS A HOT BAT: Indians OF Raul Gonzalez enters Thursday evening's affair with a base knock in 10 of his last 12 games (.333, 15-45, 8 R, 7 RBI). The 32-year-old owns a .290 batting average with three home runs and 25 RBI in 49 contests this season.

THOMPSON CONTINUES TO SIZZLE: Tribe OF Rich Thompson is hitting .381 (16-42) with three doubles, five runs and seven RBI over his past 14 games. The 26-year-old also owns an nine-game hitting streak (.394, 13-33, 5 R, 2 RBI) heading into Thursday night's tilt. He is hitting .310 with 15 RBI in 40 games this season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Indianapolis RHP Brandon Duckworth has been named the team's Player of the Month for May. The 30-year-old went 5-0 with a 3.15 ERA over six starts during the month. He also struck out 30 while limiting opponents to a .236 batting average. Duckworth went 7-0 with a 2.52 ERA over eight starts from April 23-May 30.

LOUISVILLE BATS
RAY OF SUNSHINE: INF Ray Olmedo is batting .412 (14-34) with three RBI, four doubles and six runs scored in his last nine games; he raised his average from .316 on May 28 to its current mark of .346 In Wednesday night's 2-1 victory versus the Red Barons, he stretched a single into a double and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning after a one hour and 50 minute rain delay. With 127 at-bats, Olmedo is just shy of breaking into the League's top 10 in batting. Teammate OF Chris Denorfia leads the IL with a .331 average.

SEASON-HIGH WINNING STREAK: The Bats had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped by Pawtucket Sunday, June 4. During the streak from May 28-June 3, Louisville won their first series in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since 1998 and raised their record versus Pawtucket to 31-16 at Louiville Slugger Field. The Bats pitching staff threw three shutouts in four games during this time (May 30, June 1-2).

A STEADY DOSE OF POWER: The Bats pitching staff's ERA has steadily declined since April when the team went 11-13 and had a 4.07 ERA. Pitching Coach Ted Power took over for Mario Soto, who was scheduled to be here on an interim basis, on May 16. The Bats went 11-16 in May, but their ERA during the month was 3.95. And after a 4-3 record seven games into the month of June, the team's ERA during this time is 2.86. Louisville has gone from last in the IL in ERA to 11th with a current mark of 3.84.

NORFOLK TIDES
HARBOR PARK HARD ON HOMERS: In 34 home games this season, Harbor Park has surrendered just 31 home runs, an average of 0.912 home runs a game. That ratio makes Harbor Park the second-toughest ballpark in which to homer in the IL, trailing only Victory Field in Indianapolis, which has seen 28 home runs in 31 games there (0.903 home runs a game). Syracuse's Alliance Bank Stadium has surrendered the highest amount of long balls per game this year, as 52 home runs have been hit there in 27 games (1.93 a game).

HOME THEFT: The Tides have had much better success stealing bases at home this year. In 34 home games, Norfolk has stolen 26 bases while being caught only 10 times, with Anderson Hernandez (five stolen bases, two times caught) and Chris Basak (four stolen bases, one time caught) leading the way. On the road, the Tides have swiped 16 bags, but have also been caught stealing 16 times. Norfolk currently ranks seventh in the International League with 42 stolen bases this season.

HEATING UP: Tides infielder Chase Lambin has been swinging a hot bat as of late. The 26-year-old has hit safely in nine of his last 13 games, hitting .412 (14-34) with 4 RBI and eight runs scored over that stretch. Lambin, who leads the club with 23 RBI this season, has increased his average from .180 to .225 over that span.


OTTAWA LYNX
HOWIE WOWIE: Lynx INF Howie Clark went 1-4 last night to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, tying a Lynx season high. Clark has struck out only 10 times in 133 at-bats this season, which fits in well with the rest of the Lynx club (Ottawa has struck out an IL-low 357 times this season). The versatile Clark joins teammate Eddy Garabito as two of only nine players (with 20 + at-bats) in the IL who have struck out fewer times than they have walked.

BACKWARD THINKING: The Lynx come into today's action playing their best baseball of 2006, having won 10 of their last 14. The winning streak has not done much for Ottawa's first place aspirations though, as prior to this stretch Ottawa was a season low 20-26 and 7.0 games out of first place. The Lynx head into Thursday morning's game at 30-30, but they are now 7.5 games behind first place Rochester in the IL North.

GETTING THINGS RIGHT: The Lynx will face a right-handed pitcher on Thursday, which is a good sign for their chances of winning. Ottawa has posted a 25-15 record against right-handed starters this year and a 5-15 record when a southpaw starts for the opposition. As a team the Lynx have hit .263 against RHP and .247 against LHP. Lynx outfielder Luis Terrero has been the Lynx most consistent performer vs. right-handers, batting .383 (23-60) with three of his four homers.

GET OVER THE HUMP: Wednesday night's win over Columbus gave the Lynx a 30-30 record on the season. The Lynx have been at .500 or better for 18 days of this season, with the last time coming two days ago (29-29) and the time prior to that being May 6 (14-14). A Lynx victory today would even the Lynx home record at the .500 mark (they are 15-16 currently) and would push Ottawa's record over .500 for the first time since April 20, when the Lynx were 8-7.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX
GOOSE EGGS: Four straight PawSox games ended in shutouts last weekend and this week. The Sox lost in Louisville on Friday (0-3) and Saturday (0-4) but then rebounded to win in Louisville on Sunday (7-0) and Monday night in Indianapolis (5-0). Over 31% of Pawtucket's games have ended in shutouts this season (18 of 58) as the PawSox are 10-8 in shutout games thus far - their 10 shutouts lead the League while their 8 times shutout are also the most in the IL. The Sox have 1-0, 2-0, 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, 2-0, 4-0, 4-0, 7-0, and 5-0 shutout victories to their credit already (in that order). They had 8 shutout wins last season and the PawSox club-record for most shutouts in a season is 15 in 1977. The Sox have been blanked themselves 8 times. All of last year they were shutout just 5 times and the team-record for most times shutout in a season is 21 in 1989.

JUNE BUGS: The PawSox - who have suffered back-to-back losing months to begin the season (11-13 in April and 13-14 in May) - have begun the month of June at 3-4. June thus far has been a microcosm of their season - the team is batting .247 with only 26 runs scored. Pitchers have done their part turning in a 2.75 ERA allowing 20 runs but going just 3-4. The double-play combination of Alejandro Machado (.364) and Dustin Pedroia (.348) are leading the way in June while starters Jimmy Serrano (6 IP), Marc Deschenes (5 IP), and Jon Lester (4 IP) have yet to allow a run thus far in their one June start apiece.

REUNION LUNCHEON TO CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LONGEST GAME: The Pawtucket Red Sox are putting the finishing touches on their plans to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Longest Game ever played in professional baseball. The 25th Anniversary will take place two weeks from tomorrow (Friday, June 23). It will start with a reunion luncheon on June 23 at the Providence Marriott at 12:00 Noon. Attending the luncheon are former PawSox 3B and Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, Red Sox Hall of Famers Bruce Hurst and manager Joe Morgan, Marty Barrett, Dave Koze (who had the winning hit to end the 33-inning marathon), along with several other team members from both the 1981 PawSox and Rochester Red Wings who participated in the famous 33-inning game at McCoy Stadium. Red Sox NESN broadcaster and former PawSox radio broadcaster Don Orsillo will serve as MC. All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the PawSox Charitable Foundation. Later that night, members of both teams will be featured in special pre-game ceremonies at McCoy Stadium prior to Pawtucket's 7:05 p.m. game with Columbus.

RICHMOND BRAVES
BRAVES DIG THE LONG BALL: The Braves have hit home runs in a season high five straight games. Scott Thorman has seven home runs in the last eight games. He is on a pace to hit 34 home runs. That would equal the second highest single season total in club history. No Brave has hit more than 26 in a season since The Diamond opened in 1985.

STREAKERS: Thorman has hits in nine straight games (14-34 .412). Thorman has knocked in runs in eight straight games. Martin Prado has hits in five straight games (9-21 .429). RHP Phil Stockman has worked his last 16 innings in nine appearances without allowing a run and permitting just three hits. The Braves bullpen's run of 15 straight scoreless innings ended Wednesday.

BANGED UP: Martin Prado joined the lengthy list of injured R-Braves on the disabled list. Prado pulled a hamstring Sunday. Wes Timmons has been out since May 16 with a broken thumb. Two Braves returned to the lineup this week. James Jurries was activated from the DL after missing 38 games with a fractured knee. Bill McCarthy returned Tuesday after missing seven games with a sports hernia. RHP Anthony Lerew (strained back) remains on the DL. RHP Blaine Boyer and OF Kelly Johnson are out for the rest of the season following surgery.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS
STREAKY WINGS: The Red Wings have a season-high seven-game winning streak, which is the longest winning streak Rochester has had since April 8-15, 2004 when the Red Wings started the 2004 season with a franchise best 8-0 record. Since 1990 Rochester has had only eight winning streaks of seven or more games. Here's a look at those winning streaks:
July 7-19, 1990 12-game winning streak April 8-15, 2004 eight-game winning streak
July 16-25, 1992 10-game winning streak April 22-29, 1997 seven-game winning streak
July 16-23, 1993 eight-game winning streak May 31-June 6, 1995 seven-game winning streak
July 6-14, 1997 eight-game winning streak July 24-30, 1991 seven-game winning streak
SIDE BLOG: Closer Pat Neshek, who has his own web site (www.patneshek.com), has been very impressive in his first season at the Triple-A level, going 4-1 with 12 saves and a 1.71 ERA in 24 games. Neshek has not allowed a run in 14 of his last 16 appearances and opponents are batting .183 against him. Neshek needs just 12 more saves to break the Red Wings all-time record for saves in a season set last year by RHP Travis Bowyer (23).

NO JUNE SWOON HERE: With last night's win Rochester moved to 7-0 in the month of June. Their 7-0 start to June is their best start to a month since April 2004 when the Red Wings started the 2004 season 8-0. If the Red Wings can finish with a winning month of June it would be their eighth consecutive month with a .500 or better record. It would be the first time they've accomplished this since April, May, June, July, August, September 1980 & April, May 1981.

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE
SANDOVAL SLUMP BUSTER: Danny Sandoval is finally showing why he is the reigning International League batting champion. Sandoval started the season strong hitting in 14 straight games at one point. On May 5 his average stood at .313. Then his troubles began. From May 6 through June 3 he went just 10-79 (.126) dropping his average to .212. In this Louisville series, however, he has recorded three straight multiple-hit games (6-12) with 4 RBI.

NASCAR AT THE PARK: Nascar driver Scott Wimmer and his #4 Aero Exhaust Chevy will be appearing this Friday at Lackawanna County Stadium. Wimmer's car will be on display outside the front games from 6-8 p.m. He is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 6:45 p.m. and then sign autographs on the Bank Patio beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wimmer joined Morgan - McClure Racing in 2006 for the entire NEXTEL Cup Schedule racing the #4 Aero Exhaust Chevy as well as race in 13 BUSCH Races for Brewco Motorsoprts in the #66 Ford.

NO JUNE SWOON: How about them Red Barons pitchers. During the month of June Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hurler's have been exceptional. In seven games they are 4-3 but have a great 1.95 ERA. In 68.0 innings they have allowed just 48 hits and 4 home runs. Their 3.35 ERA ranks 4th in the International League.

DAVIS BACK TO READING: Allen Davis was optioned back to Reading today to make room for Adam Bernero. He appeared in one game in relief on his most recent stint with the team and picked up the win 6/5 at Louisville. In his last three games (2 starts) for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre he was 3-0 with a 4.20 ERA. Brian Sanches is expected to join the team Friday vs. Rochester at Lackawanna County Stadium.

SYRACUSE SKYCHIEFS
SANTOS IMMPROVES HIT STREAK TO A SYRACUSE SEASON HIGH 14 GAMES: SkyChiefs shortstop Sergio Santos extended his current hit streak to a career high and Syracuse season high 14 games going 2-5 in Wednesday night's game at Norfolk. Santos, who twice in the lower levels collected a 10-game hit streak, has collected eight multi-hit games during the streak and is hitting .383 (23-60) with eight doubles, a home run and twelve runs batted in. The 6'3" right-handed hitter, acquired by the Blue Jays along with Troy Glaus for Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista, has raised his average from .207 to .262 during the streak.

THE COSBY SHOW: SkyChiefs outfielder Rob Cosby went 2-4 against Norfolk on Wednesday night, his third consecutive two-hit game, improving his current hit streak to a season high seven games and has now reached base in 16 straight games played. Cosby is hitting .323 (20-62) with 2 home runs and 11 runs batted in over his last 16 games and is hitting .345 (10-29) over his last seven games. Included in Cosby's 16 game on-base streak has been seven games versus Norfolk whom he has hit .414 (12-29) against with four runs scored, two home runs and seven runs batted in.

MOTTOLA MOVES INTO A TIE FOR 5TH ON FRANCHISE DOUBLES LIST: SkyChiefs outfielder Chad Mottola collected his 101st double in a Syracuse uniform during Wednesday night's game at Norfolk moving him into a tie with Walt Cazen ('36-'37, '42-'45) for fifth on the All-Time doubles list. Carden Gillenwater ('49-'54) stands fourth on the list with 104 career doubles. Mottola also ranks third on the All-Time HR list with 75.

SKYCHIEFS' BATS RIDING HIGH AGAINST THE TIDES: Jason Phillips was the only Syracuse starter not to collect a hit last night ending the SkyChiefs three game streak of having every starter manage a hit versus Norfolk. Phillips also failed to reach base snapping a streak of 12-straight games doing so. The SkyChiefs have pounded out 10 or more hits in each of their last four games versus Norfolk and are hitting .335 against the Tides in seven games this season. Against the rest of the league the SkyChiefs are hitting .241.

TOLEDO MUD HENS
IT'S BEEN A WHILE, MARK: With the recent amount of double-header games that the Mud Hens have played, along with the loss of RHP Zach Miner to Detroit, the Mud Hens pitching rotation has been a little off kilter as of late. Enter, RHP Mark Woodyard. Woodyard was summoned to the mound as a starter on June 7 in Buffalo, marking the first time he has started a game since August 8, 2004 with the Erie SeaWolves. Woodyard spent the entire season with Toledo in '05 before earning his first Major League call-up during September by the Tigers. Woodyard pitched three innings, allowing two hits, four runs, three walks and one strikeout and did not figure in the decision on Wednesday night.

WELCOME BACK JACK!: Apparently, the first trip to the big leagues gives a player some added confidence in his skills. Jack Hannahan, who has been solid all year for Toledo, didn't need much more confidence, but has been on a tear since returning from his first call. Hannahan is hitting 11-25 (.440) with a home run, two doubles, eight RBI and five runs. With his 2-4 night on Tuesday at Buffalo, Jack bumped his season average up over the .300 mark - the only Hen on the active roster with such an average.

HEY NOOK! BREAK A LEG!: OF Nook Logan returned to the Mud Hens lineup on Wednesday night after having spent almost the entire season on the disabled list. In the Mud Hens home opener, Nook had his right pinkie finger stepped on and broken by Charlotte Knight first baseman Casey Rogowski. Logan has been on the DL ever since. In his return, Logan went 2-4 with a run scored on June 7 at Buffalo. Nook has a career 219 Minor League stolen bases, capped by a career high 67 in 2001 with West Michigan.

FILTHY SANCHEZ: RHP Humberto Sanchez was promoted to Toledo from Erie on Thursday and was scheduled to make his Triple-A debut with his start at Buffalo. Sanchez has been red-hot at Double-A Erie this season, going 5-3 with a stellar 1.76 ERA. He has 86 strikeouts in just 71.2 innings pitched and only 27 walks. Sanchez was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 9th round of the 2000 draft but did not sign with them. He was then drafted by the Tigers in the 31st round the following year.

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