Mud Hens, Indians Square Off for Governors' Cup

September 12, 2005 - International League (IL1) News Release

The 2005 Governors' Cup Finals get underway tomorrow night in Toledo in a matchup of two IL West clubs. The Toledo Mud Hens and Indianapolis Indians, having both survived five-game first round series, meet in what promises to be an intense Finals. The Mud Hens, who won the IL West with the League's best regular season record (89-55), claimed a spot in the Finals last night with a 5-3 victory over Norfolk in Game 5 of their first round matchup. Indianapolis also needed the full five games to knock off the defending champion Buffalo Bisons, winning 6-4 yesterday to advance. The Indians are looking for their third Governors' Cup, having previously won the Championship in 1963 and 2000. Toledo, fresh off the club's first post-season series victory since 1980, hopes to claim the Governors' Cup for the first time in 38 years. The 1967 Mud Hens are the only Toledo club to win the Championship. The final series will begin tomorrow night at 6:30 pm at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, where the teams will meet for the first two games. The series will then shift to Victory Field in Indianapolis for the conclusion of the Finals. With no off-day between sites, the best of five affair is scheduled to be completed no later than Saturday night.

Toledo and Indianapolis Renew IL West Rivalry

The two clubs meeting for the 2005 Governors' Cup Championship are no strangers. While Toledo and Indianapolis have never met in a post-season series, the IL West foes played each other 16 times this year, including five times in the final six days of the regular season.
W L S
4/24 @ IND Indianapolis 7, Toledo 1 Cory Stewart Jason Grilli
4/25 @ IND Indianapolis 2, Toledo 1 Ian Snell Kenny Baugh Mark Corey
5/03 @ TOL Indianapolis 6, Toledo 0 Zach Duke Sean Douglass
5/04 @ TOL Toledo 4, Indianapolis 3 Jason Karnuth Mark Corey
6/24 @ TOL Toledo 7, Indianapolis 3 Rob Henkel Cory Stewart Jason Karnuth
6/25 @ TOL Indianapolis 8, Toledo 3 Zach Duke Wil Ledezma
6/26 @ TOL Toledo 4, Indianapolis 0 Andrew Good Justin Reid
6/27 @ TOL Toledo 6, Indianapolis 5 (12) Mark Woodyard Jeff Miller
8/06 @ IND Indianapolis 2, Toledo 1 (11) Jeff Miller Steve Green
8/06 @ IND Indianapolis 5, Toledo 4 (13) Paul Stewart Mark Johnson
8/07 @ IND Indianapolis 6, Toledo 1 Mike Connolly Kenny Baugh
8/31 @ IND Toledo 1, Indianapolis 0 Andrew Good Ian Snell Jason Karnuth
8/31 @ IND Toledo 4, Indianapolis 3 Jason Grilli Bryan Bullington Steve Green
9/01 @ IND Toledo 6, Indianapolis 1 Zach Miner Oliver Perez
9/04 @ TOL Indianapolis 7, Toledo 3 Mark Corey Jason Karnuth
9/05 @ TOL Toledo 4, Indianapolis 3 Wil Ledezma Eddie Olszta Kevin Hooper

Ultimately the two clubs split the regular season series, with each team going 5-3 in their home park. The Mud Hens had a chance to force Indianapolis into a one-game playoff for the Wild Card if they could have swept the final two-game series, but lost September 4 to the Indians 7-3. Here are a few more statistics of note from the season series between the Mud Hens and Indians:

TEAM ERA vs. Opponent: Toledo 3.51, Indianapolis 3.02
BATTING AVG. vs. Opponent: Toledo .215, Indianapolis .238
HOME RUNS vs. Opponent: Toledo 12, Indianapolis 11



Governors' Cup Playoff Preview
Page Two September 12, 2005

Indians Reach Finals on the Strength of Three Straight Wins

The Indianapolis Indians did the nearly unthinkable over the weekend - winning three straight games on the road against the defending Governors' Cup Champions. Buffalo was 46-26 at home during the regular season, but couldn't get a single win in three tries at home against the Tribe in their first round matchup. Indianapolis joins the 2004 Bisons as the only two teams in the IL in the last twenty years to come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a post-season series. Buffalo won Games One and Two of the 2005 first round matchup in Indianapolis, seemingly putting things out of reach as the series shifted to Dunn Tire Park. The Indians bounced back to win Game Three 5-2 thanks to a four-run 3rd inning that was highlighted by a two-run triple by J.J. Furmaniak. The following evening Furmaniak hit a two-run homer in the top of the 9th to put Game Four out of reach, and Mark Corey closed the door for the 4-1 win to even the series. In the fifth and deciding game, the hero proved to be catcher Ronny Paulino. Marred in a 2-18 post-season slump, Paulino's bat came to life in the top of the 8th inning. His two-out, three-run home run erased a one-run deficit and gave the Tribe a 6-4 lead. Corey saved his third straight game, capping a great series by the Indianapolis bullpen. In the three wins in Buffalo, the Indians' relievers combined to pitch 12 shutout innings while allowing just four hits.

Playoff Stars for Indianapolis
P Mark Corey - saved all three wins, striking out last two batters to clinch series.
1B Graham Koonce - batted .474 (9-19) with 3 2B, a HR, and 3 RBI.
P Mike Connolly - won Games Three and Five; 3.00 ERA in 6.0 IP.
OF Ray Sadler - batted .350 (7-20) with a 2B and 2 RBI.
SS J.J. Furminiak - led Tribe with 4 RBI; hit .250 (5-20).
Corey Koonce

Back & Forth Battle Swings to Mud Hens in Finale

The Toledo Mud Hens and the Norfolk Tides staged an exciting battle in the other IL Semi-Final. No team won consecutive games with Toledo eventually claiming the decisive Game Five to advance to the Governors' Cup Finals for the first time since 1980. The Mud Hens were able to get a win in Norfolk by winning Game One 6-5, and came home with the series tied 1-1. The Hens won an exciting Game Three, getting consecutive run-scoring singles by Gookie Dawkins and Ryan Raburn in the bottom of the 8th to win 4-2. Game Four was a pure thriller. With the game tied 2-2 in the 9th, centerfielder Dewayne Wise threw out the would-be go-ahead run at the plate, but one batter later Brian Daubach doubled to put Norfolk ahead 3-2. The Hens had runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the 9th, but Ryan Raburn was nabbed trying to return to second base after Don Kelly grounded out to first, ending the game. In the finale, Toledo scored four runs in the first three innings, all on two-out hits. Starter Wil Ledezma held the Tides to one run in five innings, and the bullpen pitched well enough to hold the lead for Jason Karnuth, who saved his third game of the series by tossing a perfect 9th. Toledo's first post-season series triumph in 25 years didn't come easily. The combined score from all five games was 20-20, and prior to last night the Mud Hens had trailed in each game.

Playoff Stars for Toledo
OF Marcus Thames - led Hens with .438 average (7-16), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R.
P Jason Karnuth - three saves, 3 K in 4 appearances in first round series.
P Jason Grilli - struck out 10 in 7.0 shutout innings (0-0).
C Sandy Martinez - doubled twice while hitting .308 (4-13).
2B Ryan Raburn - 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored in Game Five clincher.
Thames Karnuth



Governors' Cup Playoff Preview
Page Three September 12, 2005

Other Governors' Cup Playoffs Notes

- Toledo's Larry Parrish, the reigning IL Manager-of-the-Year, is trying to become the 15th Manager-of-the-Year recipient to also lead his club to the Governors' Cup Championship. The last to do so was Buffalo's Marty Brown in 2004. The first was Toledo's Jack Tighe in 1967, the first year the award was given. Tighe is the only other Toledo Manager to win the award.
- With a Indianapolis victory in the Governors' Cup Finals, the Tribe would take home its third Governors' Cup Championship in just its ninth season in the International League. Indianapolis won the Governors' Cup during a one-year expansion of the IL in 1963, its only season in the League prior to 1998. The Indians rejoined the IL seven years ago, only making the playoffs in 2000 prior to this season. The 2000 Tribe won the Governors' Cup by defeating Durham (3-2) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (3-2).
- Toledo previously played for the Governors' Cup in 1967 and 1980, both best-of-seven series. 2005 will mark the first time they've played for the Championship against a team other than their in-state rival Columbus. The 1967 Mud Hens defeated Columbus 4 games to 1 behind the pitching of Jim Rooker and Daryl Patterson. Thirteen years later Toledo returned to the Finals to again face Columbus, but this time the Mud Hens lost the series 4 games to 1.
- The 2005 Governors' Cup Championship will be the first post-season matchup of two teams from the IL West. In fact, since the International League was split into three divisions in 1998, no IL West team had won the Wild Card prior to Indianapolis doing so this season. The 2000 Indians and the 2001 Louisville Bats are the only IL West teams to win the Governors' Cup since 1998.
- Toledo and Indianapolis battled for the IL West Championship most of the year. Of the 152 days that comprised the regular season, there were only three times that neither club owned or shared first place following play on a given day. The race went back and forth during the first three months of the season until Toledo finally moved into first place for good on June 23. Overall the Mud Hens held or shared first place for 109 days, while Indianapolis held or shared the division lead for 41 total days.
- Miscellaneous statistics of note from the 2005 regular season:
TOL IND
HOME RECORD 46-26 41-31
ROAD RECORD 43-29 37-35
SCORE FIRST RECORD 55-22 43-23
1-RUN GAME RECORD 24-15 22-26
2-RUN GAME RECORD 17-11 11-9
EXTRA INNING RECORD 14-7 9-6
LEAD AFTER 7 INNINGS 70-4 62-6
TIED AFTER 7 INNINGS 9-7 13-9
TRAILING AFTER 7 INNINGS 8-44 3-51
LEAD AFTER 8 INNINGS 62-2 59-5
TIED AFTER 8 INNINGS 9-5 13-7
TRAILING AFTER 8 INNINGS 7-43 1-49




2005 Governors' Cup Finals
Indianapolis Indians vs. Toledo Mud Hens
Season Series Tied, 8-8

Game One: Tuesday, September 13 @ Fifth Third Field - 6:30 pm
Game Two: Wednesday, September 14 @ Fifth Third Field - 6:30 pm
Game Three: Thursday, September 15 @ Victory Field - 7:00 pm (CST)
Game Four: Friday, September 16 @ Victory Field - 7:00 pm (CST) *
Game Five: Saturday, September 17 @ Victory Field - 7:00 pm (CST) *
* denotes if necessary

Playoff History Between the Clubs - Indianapolis and Toledo have never met in the Governors' Cup Playoffs.



Indianapolis Indians (78-66)
Manager: Trent Jewett (1st Season)
Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates
Qualified: Wild Card (+ 1.0)
Last Time in Playoffs: 2000
Years in Playoffs/Record: 2 yrs./14-7 (.667)
Last Governors' Cup: 2000
Team Batting Avg. - .275 / Team ERA - 4.29

Probable Starting Pitchers
G1: RH Ian Snell (11-3, 3.70)
G2: RH Bryan Bullington (9-5, 3.38)
G3: LH Mike Connolly (2-4, 4.42)
G4: RH Chris Enochs (4-4, 5.17)
G5: To Be Determined

Indians' Leaders:
Batting Average: A. Amezaga, .340; R. Paulino, .315
Home Runs: G. Koonce, 23; R. Paulino; 13
Runs Batted In: G. Koonce, 77; Y. De Caster, 61
Stolen Bases: C. Crespo, 31; A. Amezaga, 14
Victories: I. Snell, 11; B. Bullington, 9
Strikeouts: I. Snell, 104; B. Bullington, 82
ERA: M. Johnston, 2.97; B. Bullington, 3.38
Saves: M. Corey, 28; K. Bullinger, 4

Players to Watch:
¨ RHP Ian Snell - 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA in one post-season start (7.0 IP, 4 R, 1 ER)
¨ 2B/OF Cesar Crespo - 5th in the IL in steals (31); named Tribe's MVP for 2005
¨ UTIL Yurendell De Caster - Played five defensive positions for Tribe plus DH; hit .280 this season
¨ C Ronny Paulino - Put up impressive numbers (.315-13-42) since promotion from Double-A
¨ 1B Graham Koonce - Led Indians with 23 HR and 77 RBI; only one HR since August 8


Toledo Mud Hens (89-55)
Manager: Larry Parrish (4th Season)
Affiliate: Detroit Tigers
Qualified: West Division Champion (+11.0)
Last Time in Playoffs: 2002
Years in Playoffs/Record: 6 yrs./14-20 (.412)
Last Governors' Cup: 1967
Team Batting Avg. - .265 / Team ERA - 3.71

Probable Starting Pitchers
G1: RH Andrew Good (9-5, 3.68)
G2: RH Joel Zumaya (1-2, 2.66)
G3: RH Kenny Baugh (12-8, 3.38)
G4: RH Jason Grilli (12-9, 4.09)
G5: LH Wil Ledezma (5-3, 5.29)

Mud Hens' Leaders:
Batting Average: M. Thames, .340; A. Gomez, .307
Home Runs: M. Hessman, 28; M. Thames, 22
Runs Batted In: M. Hessman, 74; R. Raburn, 64
Stolen Bases: D. Wise, 22; A. Gomez, 21
Victories: K. Baugh & J. Grilli, 12
Strikeouts: J. Grilli, 120; K. Baugh, 107
ERA: J. Karnuth, 2.13; Z. Miner, 2.36
Saves: J. Karnuth, 23; S. Green, 2

Players to Watch:
¨ OF Alexis Gomez - enjoyed a fine year at the plate (.307-7-55)
¨ RHP Jason Grilli - Led staff with 167.1 IP, 2nd most IP in the International League this year
¨ RHP Kenny Baugh - along with Grilli, one of five pitchers to record 12 wins in the IL this season
¨ 2B Ryan Raburn - 24-year-old drove home 15 runs each month from May through August
¨ RHP Jason Karnuth - Hens' closer gave up only one home run this year in 67.2 IP

International League Stories from September 12, 2005

• IL Governor's Cup Begins Tuesday In Toledo - Indianapolis Indians
• Mud Hens, Indians Square Off for Governors' Cup - IL1
• 2005 Post Season Game Notes - Louisville Bats
• Hens go after their first championship in 38 years - Toledo Mud Hens
• Delmon Young named Minor League player of the year - Durham Bulls
• Lynx fans donate over $2,700 to Hurricane Katrina relief - Ottawa Lynx

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