Triple-A All-Star Game to broadcast on ESPN2

Published on July 7, 2005 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - ESPN and Triple-A Baseball today announced the Eighteenth Annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be televised live from Raley Field in Sacramento, California on ESPN2 on Wednesday, July 13 at 10:00 p.m. eastern time. ESPN baseball analyst Buck Martinez will be returning for his third Triple-A All-Star game and will be joined in the booth by veteran commentator Dave Barnett and former New York Mets General Manager Steve Phillips, with Gary Miller reporting from the field. 2005 marks the eleventh straight season Triple-A Baseball's mid-summer classic will be televised live on ESPN2.

The 2005 Game, played at the home of the Pacific Coast League's defending back-to-back champion Sacramento River Cats, marks the eighth consecutive season players representing the International and Pacific Coast Leagues have faced off in the mid-season event. The PCL leads the series four games to three, winning four straight games between 1999 & 2002. The International League Stars won last season's contest 4-3 with a dramatic game-winning home run in the bottom of the 10th inning in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The first ten Triple-A All-Star Games were played in a National League affiliates versus American League affiliates format.

Launched in October of 1993, ESPN2 now reaches 89.3 million homes. The network provides coverage of a wide range of sports including Major League Baseball, the NBA, college baseball/basketball/football, tennis, including Wimbledon and the French and Australian Opens, World Cup & Major League Soccer, the NFL Draft, auto racing, boxing, and the X Games & Winter X Games, among others.

* * *

COMMENTATORS' BIOS

A veteran of more than 25 years of sports broadcasting, Dave Barnett has worked at ESPN as a play-by-play commentator for college football, college basketball, and Major League Baseball. Prior to joining ESPN, he was the voice of the San Antonio Spurs television broadcasts for eight seasons (1988-1996). He also served as a play-by-play commentator for the Dallas Mavericks (1981-1988) and the Texas Rangers (1990). He was honored as the UPI radio play-by-play Commentator of the Year in 1987 and 1988. He joined ESPN in 1996 as the lead college football commentator on ESPN2. For college basketball, he primarily works on ESPN's weekly Big Ten Super Tuesday contests plus select games for ABC. Barnett has called Major League Baseball games on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Radio.

Former Major League catcher Buck Martinez is currently in his thirteenth season as an analyst on ESPN's Wednesday night Major League Baseball telecasts. He has been with ESPN continuously since 1992, except for the 2001 campaign, in which he managed the Toronto Blue Jays to an 80-82 record in his only season as a Major League skipper. In addition to his work at ESPN, the 56-year-old currently calls televised games for the Baltimore Orioles on Comcast SportsNet. He also has radio experience, covering the World Series, ALCS, and Major League All-Star Game for the Telemundo Radio Network from 1982-88. Martinez played for Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Toronto during an 17-year Major League career (1969-86).

Steve Phillips joins the broadcast in his second season as an ESPN Baseball Analyst. Before joining ESPN, he served for six seasons as the General Manager of the New York Mets. Under his direction the team qualified for consecutive postseason appearances (1999-2000) for the first time in franchise history, and in 2000 won their first National League Pennant since 1986. A former infielder in the Mets Minor League system, he joined New York's front office in 1990. He played in the Mets farm system for six and a half years until being traded to the Tigers organization in July 1987.

Gary Miller, who joined ESPN in 1990, serves as Major League Baseball reporter for ESPN DayGame and select game telecasts. He has previously hosted ESPN's Up Close, Baseball Tonight, and served as an anchor for SportsCenter. Prior to joining ESPN, Miller was a CNN sports anchor/reporter from 1982-90, covering events such as the World Series, the MLB All-Star Game, the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four. Miller spent four years (1978-82) as sports director of WSAV-TV in Savannah, Ga. During that time, he was named Sportscaster of the Year by the Southern League.

Pacific Coast League Stories from July 7, 2005

• Beavers earn series split with Thursday victory - Portland Beavers
• Isotopes hold off Redhawks, earn series split in 9-6 victory - Albuquerque Isotopes
• ‘Birds slip past Royals, 8-7 - Memphis Redbirds
• Stingers use long ball to defeat Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
• Bottom Of Order Helps ‘Hawks Win, 4-2 - Round Rock Express
• Zephrs win series finale - New Orleans Baby Cakes
• Zephyrs avoid sweep, defeat Sounds In last at bat - Nashville Sounds
• Aguila named Marlins Minor League Player of the Month - Albuquerque Isotopes
• Round Rock Express notebook - Round Rock Express
• Greg Jones visits injured Little Leaguer - Salt Lake Bees
• Negro Leagues tribute, cap giveaway highlight homestand - Omaha Storm Chasers
• Omaha Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
• Getting back to business - Las Vegas Aviators
• Oklahoma RedHawks game notes - Oklahoma City Comets
• Triple-A All-Star Game to broadcast on ESPN2 - PCL1
• Corey Hart named Brewers' June Minor League Player of the Month - Nashville Sounds
• Break out the bats: RedHawks win 18-5 - Oklahoma City Comets

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.