Gardner, Burns sweep Carolina League pitching awards

High-A Kinston right-handed pitchers Cory Burns and Joe Gardner were both named to the Carolina League year-end All-Star Team on Thursday. It is the first time a pair of Kinston pitchers have swept both pitching spots on the end of year All-Star team since Bartolo Colon and Danny Graves did it for the 1995 Kinston squad. It is the first time a sweep has happened in the Carolina League since Sean Burnett and D.J. Carrasco took the spots for Lynchburg in 2002.

Kinston starting pitcher Joe Gardner was named the Starting Pitcher for the Carolina League year end All-Star Team. Cleveland's 3rd round draft pick in 2009, Gardner leads the Carolina League in wins (12) and is third in the CL with a 2.69 ERA. Gardner also leads the Carolina League in batting average against with a .202 mark. The UC-Santa Barbra product is 12-5 with Kinston, striking out 103 in 117 innings with the K-Tribe this season. The California native leads all Cleveland Indians prospect with 13 wins and 141 strikeouts this season (Gardner started the year in Low A Lake County and was promoted to Kinston on May 8th).

K-Tribe closer Cory Burns was named the Carolina League year-end All-Star Team Relief Pitcher. The University of Arizona product leads the Carolina League with 27 saves. Burns (1-2, 1.49) also leads the CL with 36 games finished. Burns has struck out 51 batters in 36 1/3 innings with the K-Tribe this season. The Arizona native is 39-for-42 in save situations between Low A Lake County and Kinston this season (he was promoted to Kinston on May 21st). His 39 total saves are the third most in all of Minor League baseball.

The K-Tribe's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is three with six games
to go. The Indians are currently on an end of season roadtrip and will finish the regular season on Monday.

courtesy of the Kinston Indians

Posted in: Cory Burns,Joe Gardner