Sports stats



IL1 International League

With Finish Line in Sight, South Teams Battling for Final Playoff Spot

September 4, 2015 - International League (IL1) News Release


The final weekend of the 2015 International League regular season has arrived, and only one berth remains to join Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Indianapolis, and Columbus in the postseason.

The Indians and Clippers split their four games with one another this week, so while both have a confirmed ticket to the playoffs it remains to be seen which club will win the West and which will be the Wild Card. The Clippers own the tiebreaking advantage after winning the season series 11-10, so if they finish even with the Indians as co-champs of the West, Indianapolis would enter the playoffs in the Wild Card slot.

The South will produce just one playoff team despite threatening to become the League's first-ever division in which all teams finish with a winning record. Gwinnett has taken three straight at Norfolk to pull within 1.0 game of the Tides with four days to go. If Gwinnett and Norfolk finish tied for the division, they'd have a one-game playoff at Coolray Field Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. to determine the final standing. Charlotte could also still catch Norfolk, and the Knights would own the right to host a tiebreaking playoff game against the Tides on Tuesday. In the event of a three-way tie for the South, the tiebreaking formula would determine the division champion. Charlotte owns that advantage with a winning record against the Braves and Tides.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre wrapped up the North Division with a 12-2 thumping of Buffalo on Thursday, delighting the 10,000 fans in attendance at PNC Field. The RailRiders will begin looking ahead to a first round matchup with whichever West Division team ends up as the Wild Card.

2015 INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

Governors' Cup First Round (Best of Five):

September 9,10

West Division Winner at South Division Winner, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Wild Card Winner

September 11,12*,13* South Division Winner at West Division Winner, Wild Card Winner at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre *

If Necessary

Governors' Cup Finals (Best of Five): September 15,16

North/Wild Card Series Winner at South/West Division Series Winner

September 17,18*,19* South/West Division Series Winner at North/Wild Card Series Winner *

If Necessary

Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game (Winner-Take-All): September 22

Pacific Coast League Champion at International League Champion (El Paso, Texas)

Manager of the Year Ron Johnson Looks to Cap Season With Cup

In his ninth season in the IL and fourth with the Tides, Ron Johnson claimed his first International League Manager of the Year Award. He now looks to add his first Governors' Cup title, a feat accomplished by sixteen previous Managers of the Year in the same season in which they were honored. If Johnson's Tides win this year's championship, he'll join the esteemed listing below:

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR & GOVERNORS' CUP CHAMPION

1967 Jack Tighe, Toledo

1984 Tony Torchia, Pawtucket

1999 Tom Spencer, Charlotte

1970 Frank Verdi, Syracuse

1988 Johnny Oates, Rochester

2004 Marty Brown, Buffalo

1971 Joe Altobelli, Rochester

1990 Greg Biagini, Rochester

2005 Larry Parrish, Toledo

1972 Hank Bauer, Tidewater

1994 Grady Little, Richmond

2011 Mike Sarbaugh, Columbus

1975 Joe Frazier, Tidewater

1997 Marv Foley, Rochester

2013 Charlie Montoyo, Durham

1980 Joe Altobelli, Columbus

1975: Tidewater Posts League's Best Record & Wins Governors' Cup Title

After experimenting with division play for two seasons, the IL returned to an eight-team pennant race in 1975. Led by IL MVP Mike Vail, Most Valuable Pitcher Craig Swan, and Manager of the Year Joe Frazier, the Tidewater Tides edged Rochester for the pennant after winning a one-game playoff. They swept Charleston to reach the finals, where the Tides handed Syracuse and manager Bobby Cox a second straight Governors' Cup finals defeat. It was Tidewater's second Cup, having come three years after its first. The Tides then met American Association champion Evansville in the last-ever Junior World Series, falling four games to one.

Previewing the Potential First Round Matchups

NORTH DIVISION WINNER vs. WILD CARD .

Scranton/WB vs. Indianapolis in 2015

May 8 @ SWB - SWB 5, Indy 4 (K. Roller: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI)

May 9 @ SWB - SWB 2, Indy 1 (S. Heathcott: 1-3, 2 R)

May 10 @ SWB - Indy 2, SWB 1 (W. Boscan: W, 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H)

July 20 @ Indy - Indy 5, SWB 0 (K. Broxton: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI)

July 21 @ Indy - Indy 3, SWB 2 (S. Lombardozzi: Walk-off RBI single)

July 22 @ Indy - SWB 10, Indy 5 (G. Petit: 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R)

July 23 @ Indy - SWB 2, Indy 1 (G. Sanchez: game-winning single in 9th)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Scranton/WB vs. Columbus in 2015

July 31 @ SWB - SWB 3, Col. 2 (K. Davies: 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 SO)

Aug. 1 @ SWB - Col. 5, SWB 4 (T. Murata: W, 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R)

Aug. 2 @ SWB - SWB 4, Col. 3 (B. Gamel: 1-4, 3B, RBI, R)

Aug. 4 @ Col. - Col. 6, SWB 4 (J. Ramsey: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI)

Aug. 5 @ Col. - SWB 7, Col. 2 (G. Bird: 3-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)

Aug. 6 @ Col. - Col. 7, SWB 6 (Z. Walters: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R)

SOUTH DIVISION WINNER vs. WEST DIVISION WINNER .

Norfolk vs. Indianapolis in 2015

May 14 @ Indy - Indy 3, Nor. 2 (B. Wood: SV, 1 IP, 0 H, 2 SO)

May 15 @ Indy - Indy 9, Nor. 1 (Game called after seven innings - rain)

May 16 @ Indy - Nor. 2, Indy 1 (D. Alvarez: 1-4, RBI)

May 17 @ Indy - Indy 8, Nor. 5 (T. Sanchez: 3-4, 2B, RBI, R)

Aug. 7 @ Nor. - Indy 6, Nor. 5 (Norfolk scored three in bottom of 9th)

Aug. 8 @ Nor. - Indy 6, Nor. 5 (Norfolk scored three in bottom of 9th)

Aug. 9 @ Nor. - Indy 5, Nor. 4 (G. Nunez: scored winning run in 9th)

Aug. 17 @ Indy - Nor. 9, Indy 5 (D. Alvarez: 2-3, 2B, RBI, 4 R)

Aug. 18 @ Indy - Nor. 4, Indy 3 (B. Wood: walked in winning run in 9th)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Norfolk vs. Columbus in 2015

June 15 @ Nor. - Nor. 9, Col. 5 (M. Almanzar: 2-3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)

June 16 @ Nor. - Nor. 4, Col. 2 (Game called in 8th inning - rain)

June 17 @ Nor. - Col. 6, Nor. 3 (T. Murata: W, 8 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 6 SO)

June 22 @ Col. - Nor. 6, Col. 5 (Columbus scored three in bottom of 9th)

June 23 @ Col. - Nor. 9, Col. 3 (A. Perez: 2-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)

June 24 @ Col. - Nor 5, Col. 4 (12) (S. Halton: game-winning double)

Aug. 19 @ Nor. - Col. 4, Nor. 3 (A. Gallas: game-winning single in 9th)

Aug. 20 @ Nor. - Col. 5, Nor. 2 (R. Rohlinger: 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)

Aug. 21 @ Nor. - Col. 4, Nor. 3 (Norfolk scored three in bottom of 9th)

* * * * * * * * * OR * * * * * * * * *

Gwinnett vs. Indianapolis in 2015

June 11 @ Indy - Indy 4, Gwn. 2 (B. Morel: 3-4, 2 2B, RBI)

June 12 @ Indy - Gwn. 8, Indy 7 (Gwinnett led 8-0 after two innings)

June 13 @ Indy - Indy 4, Gwn. 3 (A. Kurcz: walked in winning run in 9th)

June 14 @ Indy - Indy 4, Gwn. 2 (B. Wood: SV, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO)

June 22 @ Gwn - Gwn. 2, Indy 0 (M. Banuelos: W, SHO, 9 IP, 2 H, 5 SO)

June 23 @ Gwn - Gwn. 6, Indy 3 (E. Young: 2-4, 2B, 3 R, SB)

June 24 @ Gwn - Gwn. 8, Indy 5 (B. Kleinknecht: 2-3, 2 R)

June 25 @ Gwn - Indy 4, Gwn. 3 (B. Morel: 3-4, HR, 3 RBI)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Gwinnett vs. Columbus in 2015

May 21 @ Col. - Gwn. 6, Col. 1 (C. Hunter: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

May 22 @ Col. - Col. 8, Gwn. 4 (C. Moncrief: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI)

May 23 @ Col. - Gwn. 6, Col. 1 (C. Hunter: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI)

May 24 @ Col. - Col. 4, Gwn. 0 (M. Martinez: 2-4, 2B, RBI)

May 29 @ Gwn - Gwn. 4, Col. 0 (C. Martin: W, 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H)

May 30 @ Gwn - Gwn. 1, Col. 0 (D. Castro: game-winning single in 8th)

Aug. 14 @ Col. - Gwn. 5, Col. 4 (Game susp. 5/31 @ Gwn. in 1st inning)

Aug. 14 @ Col. - Col. 5, Gwn. 3 (M. Martinez: 1-2, HR, 3 RBI)

Aug. 15 @ Col. - Gwn. 6, Col. 4 (C. Bethancourt: 3-5, HR, 3 RBI)

Aug. 16 @ Col. - Col. 4, Gwn. 3 (J. Grube: W, 6 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 3 SO) George Grande and Bobby Valentine will be back on the call for the Triple-A National Championship Game

2015 International League Governors' Cup Playoff Preview September 4, 2015 Page Four

Pacific Coast League Winner Will Meet IL Champion in El Paso

PCL American Northern Update

The PCL American North race was decided this week. The Oklahoma City Dodgers (Los Angeles Dodgers) wrapped up the division this week by winning four straight over the visiting Iowa Cubs. Oklahoma City, which last made the playoffs two years ago, now has a division title in the franchise's first season affiliated with the Dodgers.

PCL American Southern Update

With their 10-5 victory Tuesday over Nashville, the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers) locked up their first division title since 2011. Overall this will be Round Rock's third appearance in the Pacific Coast League playoffs, where they will square off with Oklahoma City in the first round. The Dodgers won the season series over the Express, 11 games to 5.

PCL Pacific Northern Update

In their first season with a new Major League affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies (Houston Astros) have won their first division title in the PCL since 1998. The Grizzlies have been red hot, posting a 21-9 record in August and becoming the first team in either Triple-A league to officially punch its ticket to the postseason.

PCL Pacific Southern Update

One division race remains up for grabs in the PCL, and it has been a good one. The Las Vegas 51's (New York Mets) have been trying to hold off the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres), but this week El Paso took three out of four in Las Vegas to move in front by a half- game. El Paso won the season series 10-6 and thus owns the tiebreaking advantage.

Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game Returns to NBCSN

The team emerging from the Pacific Coast League playoffs will earn the right to meet the IL's Governors' Cup champion on Tuesday, September 22 at the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game. The IL squad will be the home team in El Paso as a result of the League's victory in July's Triple-A All-Star Game.

George Grande, former play-by-play voice of the Yankees, Cardinals, and Reds, returns to call his fourth Triple-A National Championship Game alongside former big league player and manager Bobby Valentine.

The 2015 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game will once again be aired live on NBCSN. The American Forces Network will also be showcasing the Game, bringing the event to nearly one million men and women of the U-S Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines stationed around the globe in 175 countries and on the high seas. Additionally, the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game Radio Network will bring the action to flagship Triple-A radio outlets across the country.

Check out the International League Statistics



International League Stories from September 4, 2015


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central