Eveland and Mitchell Join Dodgers
Left-handed starter Dana Eveland returns to the big leagues after racking up 12 wins this season for the 'Topes, second-most in the Pacific Coast League, while amassing a 4.38 ERA, which ranks seventh. Eveland, who earlier this season was named to the PCL mid-season All-Star Team, was also named the starting left-handed pitcher for the league's post-season All-PCL Team and was named Isotopes Pitcher of the Year by vote of his teammates. The left-hander made the start for Los Angeles when the battled the Pirates at PNC Park on September 1 and dominated, holding the Bucs to just one run on six hits through 8.0 innings. According to Elias, over the last 39 years, only four other Dodgers pitchers have pitched at least 8.0 innings while allowing one-or-fewer runs in their first career start with the team: Fernando Valenzuela (April 9, 1981), Dave Stewart (May 19, 1982), Pedro Astacio (July 3, 1992) and Brad Penny (August 3, 2004).
Mitchell returns to the Dodgers after batting .283 for Albuquerque with 22 doubles, two triples, 16 homers, and 69 RBI in 93 games. This will be the infielder's second stint with Los Angeles this year, having spent nearly a month in the Major Leagues from April 29 to May 27. In 14 games with the Dodgers, Mitchell batted .115 with a dramatic, ninth-inning home run at the Chicago White Sox on May 20 that tied the game and sent it into extra innings, where Los Angeles would ultimately prevail 6-4.
Filling the roster spots vacated by Eveland and Mitchell are outfielder Brad Coon, who comes off the DL, where he was nursing a strained hamstring, and infielder Bryant Hernandez, a former University of Oklahoma standout who will be making his Triple-A debut after helping the AZL Dodgers to an Arizona League championship.
The Isotopes' 2011 home regular season schedule is over, but that doesn't mean there won't be more baseball this year in the Duke City. The Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game comes to Albuquerque on Tuesday, September 20, pitting the winner of the Pacific Coast League playoffs against the playoff winner in the International League in a one-game, winner-take-all showdown. In addition to the game, there will also be a pre-game autograph session with Dodgers legends Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell, a fleece blanket giveaway courtesy Sandia Resort, and a post-game fireworks extravaganza. Tickets may be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line at www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.