Douglass, Darensbourg are stars; Douglass a Tiger, too

6/23/2005

Darensbourg

Two Mud Hens pitchers were named to the International League All-Star team yesterday - starter Sean Douglass and reliever Vic Darensbourg.

Then Douglass got another call.

Douglass, 9-1 with a 2.87 ERA, had his contract purchased by the parent Detroit Tigers.

Douglass, who is expected to start for the Tigers Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaves the IL tied for second in victories and fourth in strikeouts with 76. IL batters hit just .205 off Douglass.

Darensbourg has not allowed a run all season - 23 innings - in his role of set-up man. He is 2-0 with six saves.

"I'm honored," Darensbourg said. "It's first for me, and I'm very proud.

"I'm pretty pleased with what I learned about changing my mechanics, and it's worked out well so far. I've still got a few kinks to work out, but I don't want to change anything."

"Both of them have done a great job," Hens pitching coach Jeff Jones said of his pitchers. "Sean Douglass has kept us in every single game.

"I saw him in spring training, and I really liked what I saw, and he put it all together.

"Hopefully he'll be able to do the same thing at the big-league level, because he's got the stuff. He should be a successful major league pitcher.

"And what can you say about Vic? He hasn't let us down all season. He's gotten lefties out repeatedly, and has a wonderful attitude. He's a great guy to have on your team.

"I'd seen him in the past, and I've always liked him. I had always written him up as a prospect. I know he's older now, and that he's changed his delivery some.

"But he's bailed us out of a lot of situations, and I couldn't be happier for him."

In other comings and goings involving the Hens and Tigers, the contract of right-hander Nelson Cruz was sold to SK Wyvern (Korea), left-hander Rob Henkel was promoted from Double-A Erie to Toledo, and Matt Ginter was outrighted from the Tigers to the Hens.

Ginter made 10 appearances with the Tigers, posting a 5.47 ERA.

Cruz had a 5-4 record with a 4.20 ERA.

Henkel was 6-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 11 games (8 starts) for Erie.

The Triple-A All-Star Game, which pits the IL stars against the Pacific Coast League stars, will be played July 13 at Raley Field in Sacramento. The game will be on ESPN2 and 1470 AM.

Last season, the IL won 4-3 in Pawtucket, R.I., when the lone Mud Hens representative, Joe Vitiello, hit a two-run homer.

Next season the game will be played at Fifth Third Field.