IL1 International League

International League news and notes

Published on July 13, 2007 under International League (IL1) News Release


BUFFALO BISONS

WINS KEEP COMING FOR LAFFEY: Bisons LHP Aaron Laffey was a winner again last Friday against Durham. The southpaw has now won seven straight games to improve to 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA this season. Since June 2, Laffey is 7-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 46.2 IP of work (36 H,

8 R, 6 ER, 7 BB). The Bisons record for consecutive winning decisions is nine, set by Jimmy Williams in 1996 and matched by Jack Cressend in 2004. Laffey is scheduled to start again tonight against the Bulls.

BULLY FOR BISONS' PEN: The Herd has won 13 of their last 19 games and a big reason for the success has been the recent work of the bullpen. After struggling early in the year, the team has benefited from a few new faces. RHP Jensen Lewis has posted a 0.79 ERA in his last nine outings (11.1 IP,

11 K), while RHP Matt Miller has gone 15 appearances without allowing an earned run (14.0 IP, 21 K). LHP Juan Lara has rebounded to post 11 consecutive scoreless outings (11.2 IP, 12 K) while Mike Koplove has kept opponents off the scoreboard in seven straight games (6.2 IP, 5 K).

MEET MR. SMITH: RHP Sean Smith has won back-to-back starts against Durham and is now 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in his last four outings (27.0 IP,

25 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 11 BB, 13 K). On the season, Smith leads the Bisons with eight wins (5th in the IL) and a 3.73 ERA (11th in the IL) in 17 games and 14 starts. Last season, Smith finished 5th in the Indians development system with 11 wins and 169.0 innings of work between Single-A Kinston and

Double-A Akron.

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

TRANSACTIONS: Prior to the Knights July 12 game at Columbus, the White Sox recalled pitcher Charlie Haeger from Charlotte. Haeger appeared in 17 games, all of them starts, for the Knights this season. He was 4-11 with a 4.81 ERA and threw 2 complete games. Haeger leaves the Knights as one of the League leaders in strikeouts with 92. In 2006 Haeger led the International League in wins with 14 and was named to the IL postseason All-Star team. He was recalled to Chicago in September of 2006, appearing in 7 games going 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA. Haeger is expected to be used out of the White Sox bullpen. Earlier in the week the White Sox optioned pitcher Gavin Floyd to Charlotte. Floyd made one start for the White Sox on July 6 against Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader. Floyd lasted 5.2 innings, allowing 6 runs off 8 hits, walking 4 and striking out 2. Floyd earned the loss. For the Knights, Floyd has been the Knights best starting pitcher of the season. Floyd was named to the IL All-Star team before his promotion to Chicago, having gone 7-3 with a 3.10 ERA. Floyd has 80 strikeouts and just 31 walks in 15 starts.

FIRST HALF NUMBERS: Danny Richar had the team's highest batting average (.342). Richar has only been with the Knights through 18 games. Of the players that qualify for the League's batting title, Ryan Sweeney has the best average at .285. The pitching leaders have been starter Gavin Floyd, who has gone 7-3 with 3.10 ERA, and reliever Ehren Wassermann, who has gone 2-3 with a 1.99 ERA in a variety of roles out of the bullpen. The Knights entered the second half 11.5 games behind first place Richmond. If the Knights plan to make the postseason, they need to make a run soon.

BOMBARD CLOSES IN ON 1,600 WINS: Charlotte Knights manager Marc Bombard is just four victories shy of career win number 1,600. Bombard is the active leader in Minor League wins with 1,596. Bombard is a legend around the International League, having managed Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for 8 seasons leading the team to 4 division championships and twice to the IL Finals. Bombard also managed for Indianapolis for three seasons, and guided the team to the American Association championship in 1994.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS

GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURES: The Washington organization sent two pitchers to the Futures Game in San Francisco last weekend. Clipper Emiliano Fruto finished the game for the World team, throwing 0.1 innings while walking a batter. Collin Balester (joined the Clippers yesterday) was the final pitcher for Team USA and he threw 0.1 innings allowing a hit with a strikeout. The World Team won the 7-inning contest by a score of 7-2.

ABREU PUTTING UP ZEROS: Winston Abreu has struck out 21 batters over a 9.0-inning stretch - he has also had a 9.0-inning stretch where he did not allow a hit. Now he is currently working on a scoreless streak, dating back to April 23 (13 Triple-A appearances), that is up to 21.0 innings. Over the stretch he has allowed just four hits and four walks (two intentional) and struck out 47 batters. On the season, Abreu has allowed just one run (April 20, vs. Durham). After that game his ERA was at 1.04, the highest it has been all year.

NUNEZ SHOWS OFF HIS AMBIDEXTERITY: In last night's game Abraham Nunez did something no Clipper has done since 2003. With his solo shot in the 1st off LHP Andrew Sisco and his 2-run HR in the 2nd off RHP Vladimir Nunez he became the first Columbus player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game since Fernando Seguignol turned the trick against Indianapolis on July 2, 2003.

AT THE BREAK: For the second season in a row, the Clippers were under .500 at the All-Star break. Despite being only half a game behind last year's pace (39-48 in 2006), Columbus is 11.5 back in the standings compared to 9.0 last year. Since 2003, the Clippers have totaled a .548 winning percentage after the break (115-95), compiling a losing record just once (2005, 25-28).

DURHAM BULLS

ALL-STAR STORY: OF Justin Ruggiano has returned from Albuquerque where he played in the Triple-A All-Star Game. Ruggiano, who leads the Bulls in stolen bases and is 2nd in RBI, was 0-1.

FUTURE IS PAST: Righty Jeff Niemann has returned from the Futures Game, which was played in San Francisco. He took the loss in the Futures Game, allowing two runs, one earned in one inning. Niemann is 2nd in the IL with nine wins. He's four wins shy of the Bulls' single-season Triple-A record of 13, set by Dave Eiland in 1998.

POWER OUTAGE: Durham went homerless in its last series in Buffalo, but still has a League-high 93 homers. Joel Guzman leads the Bulls with 13 homers, one ahead of Chris Richard. The Bulls were out-homered 6-1 during the just completed road trip, and went 2-3.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

NO. 2 IN THE WEST: Toledo (53-39) paces the International League's West Division, while Indianapolis (48-42, 4.0 GB), Louisville (48-43, 4.5 GB) and Columbus (41-50, 11.5 GB) trail the leader. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (48-41), Indianapolis (48-42, 0.5 GB), Rochester (48-42, 0.5 GB) and Louisville (48-43, 1.0 GB) are separated by just one game in the International League's Wild Card race.

STILL LOOKING FOR NO. 900: Indians Manager Trent Jewett (899-883) is just one victory away from No. 900 in his managerial career. The 16th-year Pittsburgh Pirates employee and 10th-year Triple-A skipper also reached his 200th victory in Indianapolis on July 1.

ALL-STAR UPDATE: Tribe RHP Bryan Bullington (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) earned the win in Wednesday night's Triple-A All-Star Game. SS Brian Bixler went 1-4 with two runs and two stolen bases, while 3B Yurendell de Caster grounded out in his only plate appearance. The International League All-Stars scored four times in the 1st inning en route to a 7-5 victory over the Pacific Coast League All-Stars at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, NM.

GUYS WITH EXPERIENCE: The Indianapolis roster contains 24 players -- out of 28 -- with Major League experience. INF Jose Hernandez leads the way with over 13 years of big league service time.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: Indians INF Brian Bixler places among IL leaders in triples (1st - 9), runs (5th - 55), stolen bases (5th - 20) and on-base percentage (10th - .389). UTIL Yurendell de Caster ranks among League leaders in on-base percentage (5th - .396). Indianapolis leads the International League in team batting average (.271). The Indians also place 2nd in runs (423) and 3rd in hits (815).

HIT IT TO ME AND YOU'LL BE OUT: Tribe INF Luis Ordaz ranks 1st among IL second basemen with a .994 fielding percentage (70 G, 122 PO,

203 A, 2 E), while INF Russ Johnson tops League third basemen with a .982 fielding percentage (61 G, 41 PO, 121 A, 3 E).

LOUISVILLE BATS

THANKS FOR THE PLAYERS: The Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts have had many of their top players promoted to the Bats within the last month. RHP Richie Gardner, RHP Calvin Medlock, C Ryan Hanigan, SS Paul Janish, and OF Jay Bruce have all made an impact in Triple-A since their arrival. After making a spot start in Game 2 of the Bats' doubleheader May 17, Gardner is 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts with the Bats. Gardner, 25, was promoted to Louisville June 22. He won the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award in 2004 as the Reds Minor League Player of the Year. Medlock, Cincinnati's 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, was also promoted to Louisville June 22 and made his Triple-A debut June 24. In six relief appearances with the Bats, the 24-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA. At the time of Hanigan's promotion to Louisville June 28, the 26-year-old was 4th in the Southern League in on-base percentage (.420) and had thrown at 39% of would be base stealers, good for 3rd in the SL. In eight games with the Bats while sharing catching duties with Ryan Jorgensen, Hanigan is currently batting .214 with two doubles and three runs scored. Janish, 24, and Bruce, 20, are the most highly touted of the bunch, with both players recording their first Triple-A hit Thursday night. Janish, selected by the Reds in the 5th round of the 2004 draft, was ranked 2nd in the SL with 21 doubles and tied for 5th in all of Double-A with 50 walks at the time of his promotion to the Bats

July 8. Bruce, who played for the U.S. Team in the Futures Game, hit a home run to right field for his first Triple-A hit. A 1st round selection by the Reds (12th overall) in 2005, Bruce began the season with Single-A Sarasota and played in just 16 games with the Lookouts before his promotion to Louisville yesterday. Combined between three Minor League levels and 84 games, Bruce is batting .325 (110-338) with 34 doubles, six triples, 16 home runs, 65 RBI and 60 runs scored.

GREAT ATTENDANCE: The Bats' Thursday night attendance has been great this season, due in part to Budweiser's "Game Time" Happy Hour and a live band who performs pre-game on the Overlook Deck in centerfield. In six Thursdays this season, the Bats total attendance is 55,410 for an average of 9,235. Our Friday night attendance has averaged 9,989 per game for a total of 69,926 and Saturdays have brought in 11,210/game for a total of 89,678. The Bats total on the season is 444,685 for an average of 9,264/game.

FUNNY HOW THAT WORKS: The IL leader in batting average and pitching are both Bats players who are currently with the Reds. INF/OF Jeff Keppinger leads the League with a .368 average; he had his contract purchased by Cincinnati July 7. LHP Mike Gosling's 3.00 ERA leads the IL; his contract was purchased June 17.

NORFOLK TIDES

DOYNE, HOUSE REPRESENT TIDES IN ALBUQUERQUE: Norfolk closer Cory Doyne and catcher J.R. House represented the Tides in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico. House was the IL starting catcher in the contest and went 0-2, while Doyne earned the save in the IL's 7-5 win by pitching a scoreless 9th inning.

HIT MAN: Fresh off a 13-game hitting streak, infielder Mike Cervenak is just one hit shy of tying Norfolk's team-leader in hits from a year ago. Cervenak currently leads all Orioles minor leaguers and is 2nd in the IL with 102 base hits, and last year, the Tides' team-leader in hits was Anderson Hernandez, who collected 103 in 102 games. Norfolk's franchise record for hits in a season is 170, set by Kevin Elster in 1987.

FAST START: Through just 8 games in July, Norfolk has swiped a League-leading 16 bases. All 16 swipes have been recorded by either Eider Torres (7), Tike Redman (5), or Adam Stern (4). Torres has a total of 19 stolen bases on the year, which is tops in the Orioles' system, while Redman is 3rd in the system with 15. The Tides stole 14 bases in June after stealing 21 in April and May.

OTTAWA LYNX

ALL-STAR STREAK: Lynx catcher Jason Jaramillo has hit in 10 consecutive games, leaving him one short of the longest hit streak by a Lynx player this season, set by Gary Burnham in April (11 games). Jaramillo extended his streak with a single in the 4th inning last night after catching the last three innings of the Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque, NM the previous night. Current New York Met Endy Chavez holds the team record for the longest hit streak, 25 games, set in 2002.

ANNIVERSARY PRESENTS: Lynx fans will take the time to look back on the first 15 seasons of Lynx baseball tomorrow at the Lynx 15th Anniversary Celebration. Special guests F.P. Santangelo and Derek Aucoin will host a special brunch with the fans, sign autographs and throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Lynx game against Norfolk.

FAMILIAR FACES: The Lynx welcome Norfolk to Lynx Stadium this week. They replaced the Ottawa Lynx who were part of the Orioles farm-system from 2003 - 2006 as Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate. Tides Manager Gary Allenson managed the 2003 Ottawa Lynx team that won the Wild Card with a 79-65 record. Tides coaches Larry McCall and Dallas Williams have also spent time coaching in Ottawa. Norfolk currently features four pitchers who were part of the 2006 Lynx team: Craig Anderson, Tim Kester, Andy Mitchell, and Hayden Penn. The Tides roster also features two Canadians, outfielder Adam Stern who was born in London, Ontario and Steve Green from Greenfield Park, Quebec.

PITCHER SWITCH: RHP Matt Childers was activated from the suspended list July 7 and made the start that night against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Childers, 4-1, had not pitched since May. RHP Charlie Weatherby was transferred to Double-A Reading. INF Jesus Merchan played three games for the Lynx heading into the All-Star break while INF Danny Sandoval was on the temporarily inactive list.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX

THE BUCH STOPS HERE: The Boston Red Sox made it official on Thursday by transferring top pitching prospect, righty Clay Buchholz to Pawtucket. He will make his Triple-A debut this Monday night when the PawSox host Ottawa at 7:05 p.m. at McCoy Stadium. Buchholz, 22, has been brilliant for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs this season posting a 7-2 record along with a 1.77 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) - 86.2 IP, 55 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 22 BB,

116 SO. His 1.77 ERA led the Eastern League as did his 116 SO - which were the most in Minor League Baseball until just the past week (now 3rd in all the minors). Buchholz went 6-1 with a 1.54 ERA in his last 8 GS for Portland. He most recently pitched an inning during Sunday's All-Star Futures Game in San Francisco (giving up a solo HR along with 2 SO). Other Portland highlights for the 6'3", 190 lbs. Texas native this season: He established a franchise record by striking out 8 straight batters during a start on May 11 vs. Binghamton. He registered 11 or more strikeouts in four starts including a career-high 12 SO in a 7-4 win over Erie on June 14. Clay was 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA in 9 games on the road. Portland scored a total of 1 run in his two defeats (a 3-1 loss on April 10 vs. New Britain and a 1-0 loss despite a CG effort in G1 of a doubleheader on June 2 vs. Connecticut. He made his first professional relief appearance in his last outing with Portland on July 4 at New Britain and got credit for the 4-2 victory (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R). Buchholz was selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2005 June draft (sandwich pick 42nd overall) as compensation for losing Pedro Martinez to free agency. He was Boston's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2006 going a combined 11-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 24 starts between Class-A Greenville and Wilmington. He also led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 140 strikeouts in 2006. He came into this season ranked as Boston's #2 prospect according to Baseball America as well as having the best curveball among all Red Sox farmhands.

CROSS COUNTRY: OF Jacoby Ellsbury had a whirlwind few days last weekend. Despite being ranked as Boston's #1 prospect according to Baseball America, he had been unexpectedly promoted to Boston on June 30. There the 23 year-old center fielder went 6-16 in 6 games for the Red Sox and showed flashes of his blazing speed. His promotion to Boston seemingly took the Oregon native out of play for the All-Star Futures Game last Sunday in San Francisco despite the fact that he had several members of his family planning to attend that game and the Major League All-Star Game on Tuesday. However, on July 6 he was optioned back to Pawtucket and replaced by 11-year minor leaguer 1B Jeff Bailey who would make his Major League debut that weekend in Detroit - homering for his first big league hit on July 8. Ellsbury returned to the PawSox line-up for a doubleheader on July 6 in Rochester and went a combined 4-7 with a 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 2 SB in the twinbill. His return to Triple-A made him eligible for the Futures Game after all and the next day he flew to San Francisco and actually played in the Futures Game. He even stayed for the Major League All-Star Game before rejoining the PawSox on Thursday in Syracuse.

THE BREAK IS OVER: The PawSox will have just two scheduled off-days for the remainder of the season (August 7 & August 28). Beginning last night they are playing their final 56 games in 54 days from July 12 - September 3. The PawSox were 39-48 at the All-Star break and in 5th place (10.0 GB). Pawtucket was 42-46 and also in 5th place last year at the break (8.0 GB). They went 27-29 last year after the break and finished in 5th place (16.0 GB). In 2005 at the All-Star break the PawSox were 44-46 and in a tie for 5th place (7.5 GB). They went 31-23 for the remainder of that year and wound up in a tie for 2nd place (7.0 GB). In 2004 the Sox were 40-51 at the All-Star break (5th, 13.0 GB) but recovered to go 33-20 after the break and finish in a tie for 2nd place (10.0 GB). In 2003 the PawSox were 53-42 at the All-Star break and in 2nd place (1.5 GB). They went on a nice roll in the second half (30-19) and moved into 1st place for good on July 28 before finishing atop the IL North (+4.0 games) with an 83-61 record.

RICHMOND BRAVES

ALL-STAR RECAP: RHP Manny Acosta, the Braves' lone representative in the Triple-A All Star Game, was selected by Bank of America as the game's top pitcher. Acosta tossed a perfect 7th inning, striking out two, as the International League beat the Pacific Coast League 7-5 in Albuquerque. The IL's win means the IL champion will be the designated home team in the Bricktown Showdown between the IL and PCL champs on September 18. In the Futures Game in San Francisco, Braves SS Brent Lillibridge was 0-2. The World team with Guy Hansen as pitching coach beat the United States team with Dave Brundage on the coaching staff 7-2.

BACK TO THE OLD SALT MINES: The Braves had their best pre-All Star break start since heading into the break 52-39 in 2002. Richmond opens the second half with a six-game road trip then plays 33 of their last 49 games at The Diamond. The Braves play 10 of their next 20 games against the Toledo Mud Hens, the 1st place club in the West Division.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS: The Braves lead the IL in percentage of opponents caught stealing (51-112, .455). Corky Miller leads IL catchers in caught stealing percentage (32-67, .478). Iker Franco has thrown out 17 of 34 opponents trying to steal (.500) but has not played enough games to qualify for the League lead. He is the only catcher in the IL to throw out 50% of runners trying to steal while facing more than 20 attempts. Braves outfielders have 26 assists this season. The Braves had 21 outfield assists all of last year.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS

TODAY'S HISTORY LESSON: Manager Stan Cliburn enters Friday night's game with a 132-109 record as manager of the Rochester Red Wings. If the Red Wings can win 32 more games this season (including playoffs if they make it) Cliburn would have 164 wins which would be the most wins by a Red Wings manager in his first two seasons since Harry Walker compiled 177 wins in 1952 & 1953. Since 1963 only four managers have compiled more then 150 wins in their first two years as Red Wings manager (Earl Weaver, 1966-67, 163 wins - Joe Altobelli, 1971-72, 162 wins - Greg Biagini, 1989-90, 161 wins - and Darrell Johnson,1963-64, 157 wins).

STOP KORECKY TIME: Red Wings closer Bobby Korecky has 22 saves this season and is on pace to record 35 saves, which would be a new Red Wings record for saves in a season (RHP Travis Bowyer holds the record with 23 set back in 2005). The Red Wings bullpen has 30 saves this season and needs just 12 more to tie the 1997 Red Wings for most saves (42) by a Red Wings team in one season.

HEADING NORTH: After the Red Wings complete their current four-game series with Indianapolis on Sunday, Rochester will play their final 51 games vs. North division foes. The Red Wings will battle Buffalo (8 games), Ottawa (10 games), Pawtucket (8 games), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (12 games), and Syracuse (13 games).

AT THE BREAK: The Red Wings 47-42 record at the All-Star break marked the third consecutive season Rochester has had a winning record at the All-Star break. If Rochester can have their third consecutive winning second half they should have a good chance at making the 2007 International League playoffs. Since 2000, the Wings have a 168-210 record after the All-Star break (includes a 15-49 second half in 2002).

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE YANKEES

LOOK OUT, WENDELL: Though OF/1B Shelley Duncan went 0-2 with a walk in Wednesday night's Triple-A Midsummer Classic, he certainly had an All-Star-caliber performance last night. The slugger came through for SWB in the clutch, hitting a solo home run in each of his final two at-bats, which came in the 7th and 9th innings, to help the Yankees to a 9-6 win over Louisville. While smashing homers and driving in runs has been the norm for Duncan in 2007, Thursday night did provide a first for him; surprisingly enough, it was his first multi-homer game of the season. Duncan, who was tied with Torey Lovullo, Gene Schall and Eric Valent for 2nd place on the single-season SWB home run list with 21 bombs entering Thursday, now sits alone in 2nd place. Only Wendell Magee Jr., who blasted 24 dingers in 1998, stands in front of Duncan on the list.

GARDNER MAKES DEBUT; SARDINHA SENT TO TRENTON: OF Brett Gardner didn't record a hit in his first career Triple-A game on Thursday, but he made his presence felt in other ways, drawing a pair of walks, scoring two runs and stealing a base in the SWB victory. Gardner was promoted from Double-A Trenton yesterday, taking the roster spot of OF Bronson Sardinha, who was in turn optioned to Trenton. In 54 games with the Thunder this year, Gardner batted .300 (61-203) with 19 extra-base hits, 17 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts. He has been especially hot of late, batting .372 in 31 games since June 1. In 2006, in 118 games between Class-A Tampa and Trenton, Gardner swiped 58 bags.

NO ROAD WOES: So much for "no place like home." In SWB's last four road games (July 1-3 at Ottawa, July 12 at Louisville) the team is 3-1. The SWB bats have come to life in those games as well, with the Yankee offense averaging 8.75 runs and 13.5 hits per game. Leading the way in the last four road games has been OF Justin Christian, who batted .476 (10-21) with a double, two triples, seven RBI and two stolen bases over that stretch.

SYRACUSE CHIEFS

GRIFFIN'S ALL-STAR EXPLOITS: Chiefs OF John-Ford Griffin was the team's only representative at the Triple-A All-Star Game. Griffin went 0-1 serving as a pinch-hitter for the victorious IL squad. Also, Griffin participated in the Home Run Derby, making it to the semi-finals before bowing out.

BARKER HEATING UP: 1B Kevin Barker went into the All-Star Break riding a six-game hit streak and he extended it to seven games with a 3-5 performance last night. Barker is batting .364 (12-33) during the July stretch. He batted .270 in June after hitting .194 in May.

MOTTOLA UP THE CHIEFS ALL-TIME LISTS: OF Chad Mottola is being forever immortalized when the Chiefs give out Mottola Figurines on Sunday, and there's no reason why he isn't deserving of the honor. Mottola has 10 home runs this season to continue to work his way up the all-time ledger in that category. Mottola has 93 career homers for Syracuse, one behind Hank Sauer for 2nd on the list. Mottola also ranks in the top ten in Syracuse history in at-bats, runs, hits and stolen bases.

TOLEDO MUD HENS

HENS SHINE IN ALL-STAR GAME: Outfielder Timo Perez and third baseman Mike Hessman led the International League to a 7-5 victory by driving in four of the IL's seven runs in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque, NM. Perez went 3-4 with two RBI and a run scored and was named the IL Star of Stars. Hessman, the IL leader in home runs, clubbed a two-run homer to right field in the 1st inning to give the IL a 3-0 lead. Perez is the second Toledo player to be named "Star of Stars" in the Triple-A All-Star Game, joining second baseman Frank Catalanotto (1997).

RABURN RETURNS TO TIGERS: Outfielder Ryan Raburn earned a promotion to the Detroit Tigers on July 6 after utility infielder Neifi Perez was suspended for 25 games. Raburn made his presence felt in his first game as a Tiger since 2004, with a two-out RBI single in his first at-bat in the 8th inning versus Boston. Raburn recorded four hits with one RBI in 12 games in his last stint with Detroit in 2004.

HENS WELCOME BACK CLEVLEN: Outfielder Brent Clevlen returned to the Mud Hens from the disabled list on July 6 after suffering a broken right ring finger on May 13. In only his second game back, the 23-year-old homered and drove in three runs to lift Toledo to an 8-7 win versus Louisville on July 7. Clevlen smacked a solo homer, his first, in the 2nd inning and stroked a two-run single in the 8th to erase a 7-6 deficit. Clevlen finished 3-5 with two runs scored, falling a triple shy of the cycle, to pace a 17-hit attack for Toledo. Brent picked up where he left off in the first game after the All-Star break as he homered twice on Thursday night versus Richmond.

HOT HITTING HOOPER: Infielder Kevin Hooper is currently on a nine-game hit streak in which he is batting .395 (15-38) with three doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored. The hit streak leaves him one shy of matching his season-long hit streak, which ended just before his new one began. Hooper has hit safely in 19 of his last 20 games batting .361 (30-83) with three doubles, nine RBI, and 16 runs scored. He only failed to get a hit against Ottawa on June 29.

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International League Stories from July 13, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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