Orlando's Chad Gaudin Earns SL Honors
July 18, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Orlando Rays News Release
Orlando, FL - Orlando Rays pitcher Chad Gaudin, whose perfect game on Tuesday caught the attention of the national media, earned Pitcher of the Week honors for July 11 - 17, the Southern League announced Friday.
Gaudin, making his first start at Class AA after a July 11 promotion from Class A Bakersfield, dazzled the Jacksonville hitters throughout the contest, striking out nine Suns batters on the night. The New Orleans native was promoted to Orlando after the Devil Rays placed RHP Matt White on the DL with shoulder stiffness. Gaudin was 5-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 14 games with the Blaze at the time of his promotion.
The perfect game was just the second in Southern League history, with the first occurring over 30 years ago. Charles Swanson with the Montgomery Rebels tossed a nine-inning perfect game against Savannah on August 14, 1970 - the only one in league history until Gaudin took the mound Tuesday.
Gaudin's efforts didn't go unnoticed by those outside the Southern League, as a clip of Gaudin striking out the final batter feat was played on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. His perfect game was the second Orlando gem in the last two years, as Orlando RHP Gerardo Garcia tossed a no-hitter against the Tennessee Smokies on May 22, 2002.
The 20-year-old Gaudin is the youngest O-Ray on the roster this season. In 2002 he went 4-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 26 games with Class (Low) A Charleston, picking up one save and striking out 106 in 119 innings pitched. The Devil Rays selected Gaudin in the 34th round of the 2001 June draft.
This is the third time this season an O-Ray has earned SL weekly honors - outfielders Matt Diaz (week of May 23 - 29) and Gabby Martinez (April 3 - 10) earned hitter of the week nods earlier this year.
The O-Rays close out their eight-game road trip with a four-game series with the Greenville Braves starting tonight at 7:15 p.m. The Rays return home Tuesday, July 22 for an eight-game homestand, starting with the Carolina Mudcats.
Southern League Stories from July 18, 2003
- Smokies Win in 11th - Knoxville Smokies
- Jaxx Take Series Opener, 5-3 - Huntsville Stars
- Suns comeback falls short - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Josh Hall too much for BayBears - Mobile BayBears
- G-Braves Walk Away with Win - Orlando Rays
- G-Braves Walk Past Rays - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies Featured on D.I.Y Network this Weekend - Knoxville Smokies
- Orlando's Chad Gaudin Earns SL Honors - Orlando Rays
- Future Star Wins Golden Spikes Award - Huntsville Stars
- Barons' Bats Reach Unprecedented Streak - Birmingham Barons
- Parrot heads coming to Municipal Stadium - Mississippi Braves
- Alvarez, Gaudin Named Week's Best - SL1
- G-Braves Games to be Televised - Mississippi Braves
- Stars Drop Series Finale, 3-1 - Huntsville Stars
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.
