Governors' Cup Playoff Preview

With just four days remaining in the 2014 International League regular season, half of the four-team playoff field is set. Columbus will meet Durham in one of the two upcoming first round series next week, but the only sure thing about the other series is that it will feature two teams from the North Division. 

Syracuse missed an opportunity Thursday to clinch at least the Wild Card when the Chiefs lost 6-3 against Rochester. The Red Wings are out of the division race but still hope to capture the Wild Card, despite trailing Pawtucket and Buffalo in the standings. Rochester plays both the PawSox and Bisons over the final four days of the season, meaning the Red Wings control their own destiny. 

Pawtucket picked up an 8-5 victory over Lehigh Valley on Thursday to remain 1.5 games up on Buffalo in the Wild Card race. The PawSox still have a shot at the Division title, sitting 2.5 games behind Syracuse as the Chiefs come to town Friday for a two-game series at McCoy Stadium that's also a potential preview of next week's first round matchup. 

Durham clinched its seventh IL South Division title in the past eight seasons on Monday with a 4-2 win
over Gwinnett. The Bulls have been a member of the International League for seventeen seasons, and this will be the club's thirteenth appearance in the Governors' Cup Playoffs. Durham Bulls Athletic Park was the site of a wild celebration as the home team wrapped up yet another division title under manager Charlie Montoyo. 

One night later in Toledo, Columbus secured its first postseason berth since 2011 when the Clippers 
defeated the Mud Hens 3-1. The celebration at Fifth Third Field was a bit more subdued as Chris Tremie's club began to look ahead to its series with Durham next week. 

IL Playoff Schedule - First Round Series (Best of Five):
September 3,4 Durham at Columbus, North Division Winner at Wild Card Winner 
September 5,6*,7* Columbus at Durham, Wild Card Winner at North Division Winner 

IL Playoff Schedule - Governors' Cup Finals (Best of Five):
September 9,10 Durham/Columbus Series Winner at North/Wild Card Series Winner 
September 11,12*,13* North/Wild Card Series Winner at Durham/Columbus Series Winner 
* If Necessary