Results tagged ‘ Will Middlebooks ’
The Governors’ Cup Returns to Rhode Island
After waiting 28 years, PawSox fans have been rewarded. With a 4-1 win over the Charlotte Knights Thursday evening, the Pawtucket Red Sox proved they were the best team in the International League in 2012 and won their first Governors’ Cup in nearly three decades.
Not only was the win over Charlotte the club’s first championship since defeating the now defunct Maine Guides in 1984, it was also the first post-season series sweep in franchise history. You could make a strong argument that the PawSox played some of their best baseball of the entire season during the playoffs. Here’s the proof:
- Pawtucket finished the post-season with a 6-1 record.
- The pitching staff combined for a sparkling 2.01 ERA (14 ER/62.2 IP).
- In the last six games, Pawtucket starters combined to go 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA (6 ER/39.1 IP).
- In seven playoff games, PawSox batters combined for 10 home runs, 10 doubles, and three triples.
- The PawSox outscored the Knights 13-3 in three games.
Here’s what it looked like on the field Thursday night following the final out.
Enough can’t be said about the work of manager Arnie Beyeler. The second-year PawSox skipper constantly dealt with a changing roster that, in total, featured 69 players — one shy of the franchise record.
In two years in Pawtucket, Arnie has won a North Division title and now a Governors’ Cup. From my time spent around Arnie and our 1-on-1 conversations (both on-air and off), I can tell you that he is the perfect example of how hard work pays off.
After more than five months and 150 games, it’s awfully difficult sum up a season and fully appreciate all that happened. Let’s face it, there has been plenty to celebrate in 2012 in addition to a Governors’ Cup championship:
- Mauro Gomez was named International League MVP.
- Jose Iglesias and Ryan Lavarnway were named post-season All-Stars.
- We were able to watch Will Middlebrooks crush it for all of April.
- People in Pawtucket fell in love with Pedro Ciriaco before anyone else.
- PawSox team president Mike Tamburro was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.
- Lars Anderson and Jason Repko each made SportsCenters’ Top-10 Plays.
- The beautiful statue Ben Mondor was unveiled inside Mondor Gardens.
- Big Leaguers like Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Carl Crawford, and Cody Ross all wore a PawSox jersey.
The remaining members from the PawSox Opening Day roster (left to right): Tony Thomas, Che-Hsuan Lin, Alex Wilson, Will Inman, Alex Hassan, Jason Repko, Nate Spears, Tony Pena, Jr.
The PawSox have a chance to add another highlight to the list with a win Tuesday night in Durham in the Triple-A National Championship Game against either Reno or Omaha.
Both on-air and in this blog, it has been a pleasure bringing PawSox baseball to you in 2012. Your loyal readership always gives me a reason to type and constantly reminds me how fortunate I am to be in this position.
Over the years you’ve listened to some of the most talented broadcasters in baseball come through Pawtucket, and living up to the standards they set has been the greatest — and most fulfilling — challenge of my career.
Thank you for making PawSox baseball on the radio part of your summer and for bringing me with you in the car, in your home, and everywhere else in between.
What a way to start my stay in Pawtucket.
-AG
@aaronmgoldsmith
agoldsmith@pawsox.com
Arnie Beyeler, Mike Tamburro, and PawSox general manager Lou Schwechheimer getting drenched during the trophy celebration on the field.
PawSox Notebook: Pitching Nearly Perfect
Although it now feels like the baseball season has been in full-swing for weeks, it’s Opening Day at Fenway Park this afternoon at 2:05 as the Red Sox host Tampa Bay. Josh Beckett takes on David Price in what should be a great matchup and, hopefully, the Sox second win of the season.
This picture, posted on the Red Sox Facebook page, was taken at around 6:00 this morning.
As the first pitch of the Red Sox vs. Rays game is being thrown, the PawSox will be loading the bus and heading over to Frontier Field in Rochester where they’ll wrap up a three game series to end the first leg of the current nine-game road trip. As the PawSox set numerous season-highs last night en route to a 10-1 win to even the series 1-1, here are some interesting facts and figures through eight games this season.
PawSox Notebook
- PawSox pitchers have allowed just four runs over the last 36 innings (1.00 ERA)
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Lin connected on a moonshot home run to left field in Pawtucket's 10-1 win last night over Rochester. (Kelly O'Connor)
Pawtucket’s bullpen has not allowed a single run since Game 4 of the season on April 7 (15 1/3 innings).
- The ‘pen has allowed just two earned runs over 22 1/3 innings so far (0.81 ERA).
- With the best team ERA in the International League of 1.34, the PawSox are more than 1.5 runs better than second-place Lehigh Valley (2.86 ERA).
- The club’s 1.34 ERA is the third-best in all of minor league baseball. (Triple-A New Orleans, 0.91 ERA; High-A Myrtle Beach, 1.17 ERA.)
- Thanks to a season-high 13 hits last night, the PawSox raised their team average from .245 (7th) to .260 (3rd).
- Pawtucket scored 13 runs last night with only thee extra base hits.
- Two of those XBH came from outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin who connected on his first home run of the year and also doubled.
- Per Alex Speier of WEEI.com, it was just the second time in 90 Triple-A games that Lin has had multiple extra-base hits in the same game.
- Lin had only two Triple-A home runs last year. The first came on June 22 vs. Louisville when he homered off Bats’ starter Daryl Thompson in a game that Brandon Duckworth started for the PawSox. Last night it was once again Thompson (now with Rochester) who surrendered Lin’s longball in a game were, you guessed it, Brandon Duckworth started for Pawtucket.
- Shortstop Jose Iglesias had two hits over his first five games this year. Last night he went 3-for-5 with a sacrifice bunt. His batting average went from .111 to .217.
- Third baseman Will Middlebrooks has a hit in six of the first eight games, including three multi-hit efforts.
A victory tonight for the PawSox would win the three-game series versus the Red Wings and would make the PawSox an impressive 12-2-5 in their last 18 series dating back to July 4th of last year. Righty Aaron Cook makes his second start for Pawtucket and is opposed by right-hander Cole DeVries.
First pitch from Frontier Field is at 7:05, pre-game coverage begins at 6:50.
Talk with you then,
-AG
@aaronmgoldsmith
agoldsmith@pawsox.com
