Catcher Vinny Rottino, Pitcher Lindsay Gulin Named to PCL All-Star Team

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville catcher Vinny Rottino and starting pitcher Lindsay Gulin have been named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and will represent the Sounds on the 28-man squad that takes on the International League stars in the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 16 at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky.

Both players were selected to the team as reserves by the PCL office.

Gulin, 31, currently ranks second among all PCL pitchers with a 3.15 ERA (26er/74.1ip) and carries a 4-4 record in 15 appearances (12 starts) for Nashville this season. He has held opponents to a .229 batting average (63-for-275).

The southpaw’s ERA has improved each month of the season, including a 3-0 record and 2.70 mark (8er/26.2ip) in five June outings. He posted a 3.77 ERA in April followed by a 3.24 mark in May.

Gulin was selected as the PCL Pitcher of the Week for the May 12-18 period after tossing six hitless innings and striking out a season-high 10 batters in his first victory of the year on May 15 against New Orleans.

ADVERTISEMENT The All-Star nod is the seventh mid-season honor of Gulin’s 14-year pro career and his first at the Class AAA level. His most recent appearance came in last season’s Southern League All-Star Game during a solid campaign with Huntsville, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Double-A affiliate.

Rottino, 28, makes the fourth All-Star appearance of his six-year professional career. The Nashville backstop was the starting PCL catcher in last year’s Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque and is the lone PCL returnee to this year’s contest. He previously participated in the 2004 Midwest League All-Star Game and the 2005 Southern League All-Star Game, both times as a designated hitter.

Through 76 games of action, Rottino has posted a .267 average (74-for-277), five home runs, and 37 RBIs for the Sounds.

The Racine, Wisconsin native logged the PCL’s co-longest hitting streak of the season, batting safely in career-best 24 straight contests from May 20th to June 16th.

Rottino has recovered from a slow start (.239 in 23 April games) to post a .280 average over his most recent 53 contests (53-for-189).

The two Sounds players join Nashville manager Frank Kremblas and trainer Jeff Paxson in representing the club on the PCL squad.

One former Sound was named as a participant in the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game. Oklahoma outfielder Nelson Cruz, who starred for Nashville in 2005-06, will be his club’s lone representative on the PCL team. No former Sounds were named to the International League’s roster for the contest.

The 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live on television on ESPN2 as well as on the radio on Sports Radio 560 AM at 6:05 p.m. CDT.
 

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