Andrew Kown Named To PCL All-Star Team

FRESNO- The Pacific Coast League announced today that Fresno Grizzlies pitcher Andrew Kown has been named as a starting pitcher for the 2011 PCL All-Star Team. Kown will be the lone Grizzlies player on this year's roster, pending late additions due to promotion or injury.

Kown, 28, shares the Pacific Coast League lead with eight victories with Brad Mills of Las Vegas, the other starting pitcher named to the roster. The right-hander was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for May 2nd-8th, thanks to a pair of strong performances. On May 2nd, he allowed just three hits over seven scoreless frames in a 6-0, shutout victory on the road over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Kown followed that up by striking out a career-high nine Tucson batters, holding the Padres to just two runs in six innings of work in a 7-3 home win on May 7th. The award marked the first such honor for a Grizzlies player this season, and the first time a Grizzlies pitcher has won the league award since Matt Palmer did so for the week of May 5th-11th, 2008.

A Marietta, GA native, Kown has enjoyed a successful start to his Grizzlies career after being signed by the San Francisco Giants as a minor league free agent in the offseason. Kown held the Sacramento River Cats hitless over six innings of work in a 3-0 victory at Raley Field on June 18. He also led the PCL with his 2.00 ERA (8 ER/36.0 IP), going 4-1 in six May starts.

The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants, return to Downtown Fresno on Monday, July 4th to kick off a seven-game homestand with their Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza. Tickets are available now at the Chukchansi Park Box Office, over the phone at 559-320-TIXS or online at www.fresnogrizzlies.com.