Sandoval and Gonzalez earn IL honors
Published on June 27, 2005 under International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Danny Sandoval and Pawtucket pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for the period from June 20-26. Sandoval becomes the first member of the Red Barons to take home an IL weekly award this season, while Gonzalez follows fellow hurler Abe Alvarez (June 6-12) as the second Red Sox player to win the honor in 2005.
Thanks to two doubleheaders this week, the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Red Barons played nine home games, which meant it was a great week to be hot for shortstop DANNY SANDOVAL. His best effort of the week may have been June 22 against Columbus. Sandoval got the scoring started with a RBI double in the 1st, then did it again in the 5th to draw his team within a run at 5-4. Then in the bottom of the 9th, with the game tied at 5 and two outs, Danny came through with the game winning single. He finished the night 4-5, with two doubles and 3 RBI. He followed up that performance by going 3-4 with a double, home run, 2 RBI and a stolen base in the series finale as the Red Barons took 3 of 4 from the Clippers. The Knights then came to town for a rare six-game series, and Sandoval went right to work on Charlotte pitching. He would collect multiple hits in four of the first five games, and continued to prove himself as a clutch hitter. In the second game on Friday night, his solo home run in the 8th was the difference as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won 3-2. On Sunday afternoon, he came to the plate with a 3-3 tie in the 10th. With the bases loaded and two outs, he dropped in a perfectly placed bunt single to drive in Anthony Medrano with the winning run, giving the Red Barons their eighth consecutive victory. Sandoval amassed 19 hits on the week, six more than anyone else in the IL during that span. His six doubles and eight total extra-base hits also led the League. In the nine games played, he raised his batting average 35 points to .332, the 4th best mark in the International League.
Now in his ninth professional season, Danny Sandoval is in his first campaign with the Philadelphia organization. This is despite the fact he was signed as a free agent by the Phillies in November 2003, only to be taken by Colorado a month later in the Rule 5 draft. Before last year, he spent the first seven seasons of his career in the White Sox organization, including two games for Charlotte in 2000. The Phillies signed him as a Minor League free agent again this off-season.
Pawtucket right handed pitcher JEREMI GONZALEZ has never been known as a strikeout pitcher, but he went a long way towards changing that perception this week. He took the hill June 20 against the hard-hitting Durham Bulls, who had three IL All-Stars in their starting lineup that evening. But Durham's big bats proved no match for Gonzalez, who shut down the Bulls for seven innings. He allowed just one run on five hits, striking out a PawSox season-high 11 batters with just one walk to notch his 4th win of the year. Five nights later, Gonzalez again went seven innings, this time at Richmond. He recorded five more strikeouts and allowed only two runs as Pawtucket went on to win 5-2. Jeremi improved his record to 5-2 on the season with a 2.43 ERA, the second best earned run average in the IL. He has been particularly sharp since returning from a stint with Boston in May. Since his return he is 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He's gone at least six innings in 9 of his 10 Triple-A starts in 2005. His 16 strikeouts this week led the League.
The 30-year-old Gonzalez is in his first season with the Red Sox. His time with Boston earlier this year marked the third Major League club for which he has played, following stints with the Chicago Cubs (1997-98) and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003-04). The native of Maracaibo, Venezuela signed with the Cubs at the age of 16. His only previous experience in the International League came with the Durham Bulls (2003-04).
International League Stories from June 27, 2005
- Pena's walk-off HR lifts Toledo to 6-5 win over Tribe - Indianapolis Indians
- Pawsox beat Braves - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bisons' Denney in stable condition after being struck by line drive - Buffalo Bisons
- Red Wings return home Tuesday - Rochester Red Wings
- Richmond Braves game notes - Gwinnett Stripers
- Lynx return home Tuesday - Ottawa Lynx
- Buffalo Bisons game notes - Buffalo Bisons
- Sandoval and Gonzalez earn IL honors - IL1
- SkyChiefs top Lynx 8-3 - Ottawa Lynx
- Dime-A-Dog Tonight - Columbus Clippers
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