7/1/2009

Triple-A AllStar Game Tonight, Norris Starting

Norris, Bazardo tabbed to July 15 game at Portland’s PGE Park

ROUND ROCK – The Pacific Coast League announced Wednesday that Round Rock pitchers Bud Norris and Yorman Bazardo have been elected to represent the 2009 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team as it takes on the International League All-Stars at PGE Park in Portland on Wednesday, July 15.

Norris, 24, leads the PCL with a 2.17 ERA and ranks first with 88 strikeouts against 44 walks. He has also limited hitters to a .224 batting average – best among active Round Rock pitchers.

Rated as the Houston Astros’ top pitching prospect by Baseball America, Norris fanned 84 batters in 80 innings of work with Double-A Corpus Christi in 2008 despite battling an elbow strain. He has made 14 starts for the Express this season, allowing more than two runs just twice.

Bazardo, 23, ranks third among PCL pitchers with a 2.79 ERA and is tied for second with seven wins. He has limited hitters to a .236 batting average and carries a 1.06 WHIP – best among active Round Rock pitchers.

Bazardo is 4-0 in eight appearances at The Dell Diamond and has limited hitters to a .222 batting average on the road. He was 4-0 with 28 strikeouts against seven walks over six May starts, including a complete game shutout in New Orleans on May 31. He has not lost a start since April 30.

The 2009 Pacific Coast League All-Star squad is made up of 13 elected players who have received the most votes from ballots submitted by clubs’ field managers and general managers (1/3), members of the media (1/3), and online fan voting (1/3). The elected players are joined by 15 additional All-Stars selected by the Pacific Coast League office. All 16 of the PCL’s clubs will be sending representatives to Portland, with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Nashville Sounds, Sacramento River Cats and Salt Lake Bees each sending three players.

The Pacific Coast League won an exciting game 6-5 last year in Louisville. This season’s Triple-A All-Star game will be the 22nd overall and the 12th under the current IL vs. PCL format, as the first ten contests pitted All-Stars selected from National League affiliates against those from American League affiliates. The PCL is ahead 6-5 in the current format.  The winning League this year will once again earn the right to have its champion play as the “home team” at the Triple-A Championship Game – the Bricktown Showdown – in Oklahoma City this September.

Additional information about the 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game and its festivities can be found on the official websites of the host Portland Beavers (www.portlandbeavers.com), the Pacific Coast League (www.PCLBaseball.com) and the International League (www.ILBaseball.com). 

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Related Links:

• Norris Named Starter in All-Star Game