The second full week of action in the International League saw a changing of the guard. The red hot Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) climbed to the top of the International League North with the best record in the league.
The Pawtucket Red Sox rotation continues to impress and get stronger. Brian Johnson, Eduardo Rodriguez and Henry Owens are about as lethal a trio you will find in Minor League baseball, and it is looking like their big league debut is getting closer.
Elsewhere, Charlotte maintained it’s stranglehold on the IL South, while the Columbus Clippers rode a 4-game week ending win streak into first place in the IL West.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH
The Buffalo Bisons are on fire. They are absolutely owning the International League, winning five games in a row and 11 of their last 12. Their pitching staff has been led by 27-year old righty Scott Copeland, who now sits at 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 0.65 WHIP on the year. He mowed down the Pawtucket Red Sox in his last start this past Tuesday, going six innings of one run ball, striking out six and walking one.
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Teammate Matt Hague made history this week. The third baseman reached base 10 consecutive times via walk or hit. The 29-year old first baseman is riding a 5-game hit streak, in which he has amassed 11 hits, scored 7 runs, driving in five all while walking 6 times and only striking out twice.
Bisons’ first baseman Chris Colabello had an amazing week as well. He hit .467 on the week with three home runs and 10 RBI.
The Pawtucket Red Sox refuse to go away. Their pitching staff has been unbelievable. Brian Johnson continues to impress, hurling a 7-inning complete game shutout, handing the Bisons their only loss of the week. It was the first shutout of the 24-year old righy’s career.
Eduardo Rodriguez threw together an amazing performance on Saturday when he hurled seven innings of one run ball against the RailRiders. The 22-year old lefty struck out seven while walking none.
Henry Owens also picked up his first win of the season against the RailRiders. Owens is still struggling with consistency this season as his walk rate has been frighteningly high. He walked four in his last outing, and hasn’t walked less than four in any of his three outings this season. He has walked a total of 14 batters over his first 16 innings. Have Rodriguez and Johnson surpassed Owens as the aces of the Red Sox future?
The pitching matchup of the week came on Tuesday pitting the Minnesota Twins top pitching prospect Alex Meyer versus the Nationals A.J. Cole. Both went six shut out innings in a no decision with Meyer striking out 11 and Cole striking out three and walking none.
NORTH STANDINGS
Buffalo Bisons 12-5
Pawtucket Red Sox 11-7
Rochester Red Wings 9-7
SWB RailRiders 9-8
Syracuse Chiefs 6-11
Lehigh Valley IronPigs 5-13
IL NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Hague: He reached base 10 straight times. Any other questions?
IL NORTH PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Brian Johnson: His complete game shutout against the best team in the IL leaves him the unquestionable best of the best.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH
The Tide and Knights continue to duke it out for IL South supremacy, and faced off this past weekend. Former first round pick, and the centerpiece to the Roy Halladay trade Kyle Drabek went four shutout innings in his Charlotte debut en route to a 4-1 series opening win over the Tides.
Charlotte remains in first place for the second straight week behind a few hot bats. Center fielder, 24-year old Trayce Thompson, finished the week on a 3-game hitting streak, amassing 6 hits, a home run, while scoring 6 runs and raising his season batting average to .344. Carlos Sanchez remains hot and has picked up at least a hit in every game he’s played this season. His hit streak now stands at 13 games. 24-year old third baseman Matt Davidson rebounded from a horrific start to the season with seven hits, a home run and raised his average from .200 to .255.
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Michael Foltynewicz continues to impress for the Gwinnett Braves despite not being able to get wins. This past Monday, Foltynewicz went 8 strong innings… and hit 99 miles per hour on the radar gun in the eighth. Despite going 0-2 on the week, Foltynewicz pitched two solid outings, going 13 innings allowing just three runs and striking out 18.
Alex Colome was masterful against Foltynewicz and the G-Braves in his rehab stint on Sunday for the Durham Bulls. He went 6 innings of one run ball, striking out six and walking none. He should be ready to return to Tampa Bay’s rotation soon.
SOUTH STANDINGS
Charlotte Knights 10-6
Norfolk Tides 9-8
Durham Bulls 9-9
Gwinnett Braves 6-11
IL SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trayce Thompson
IL SOUTH PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Mike Foltynewicz
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
The Columbus Clippers are surging. Ending out the week on a four game winning streak, the Clippers took control by one game in the IL West. They are being led by to veteran pitchers. 37-year old Bruce Chen hurled two one-run games last week, picking up a no decision and a win respectively. He sits at 2-1 on the year with a 1.08 ERA and a 0.56 WHIP. Shawn tossed 7 innings of his own one run baseball to pick up his second win of the season. The 33-year old righty sits at 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. With so little pitching prospects on the pipeline for the Indians, may have to turn to one of them soon.
Toledo Mud Hens Buck Farmer, the Detroit Tigers No. 3 prospect, had an up and down week, but still picked up two wins. He started the week getting shelled allowing six runs over five innings. He bounced back in his second start of the week on Sunday, when he shut out the Indians over six innings. A point of concern is that he did walk four batters in both outings but did strikeout 7 in each performance as well.
IL WEST STANDINGS:
Columbus Clippers 10-7
Indianapolis Indians 9-8
Toledo Mud Hens 8-8
Louisville Bats 6-10
IL WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Steve Lombardozzi. The Indianapolis 26-year old utility man had 9 hits over the week, including 3-hit and 4-hit performance. His average is now at .382 on the season, good for second in the IL.
IL WEST PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Buck Farmer: 2 starts, 13 IP, 2-0, 14 strikeouts.