Congrats to three of our favorite Louisville Bats:
Bats infielders Joey Votto and Jeff Keppinger along with left-handed pitcher Phil Dumatrait were today named to the International League team for the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game. The game will be played Wednesday, July 11 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Votto, 23, is hitting .311 with nine home runs and 41 runs batted in. His .417 on-base percentage is third in the IL. From May 4 – June 20, Votto reached base in 42 consecutive games, the second longest streak in the IL this season. Last week he was named to the World Team for the 2007 All-Star Futures Game in San Francisco.
Keppinger is leading the IL with a .359 batting average and has hit safely in 43 of the 49 games he has appeared in for Louisville. The 27-year-old has played in three games with Cincinnati this year, batting .250 with the Reds. Keppinger has started at first base, second base, third base and left field for the Bats this season. He is tied for the team lead in multi-hit games with fellow All-Star Votto at 23 apiece.
The 25-year-old Dumatrait is tied for fourth in the IL with seven wins. He leads the Bats pitching staff in games started with 16 and his 88 1/3 innings pitched are good for fifth in the IL. Dumatrait was named Louisville Pitcher of the Month for April went he went 4-0 with a 0.63 ERA.
The 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast nationwide on ESPN2, pitting the International League All-Stars against the Pacific Coast League All-Stars.
Mark July 11 on your calendar. I already have.