Former Chippewa Selected as Triple-A All-Star

July 13, 2004

MOUNT PLEASANT - Former Central Michigan University baseball pitcher Lee Gardner was selected to participate in the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 14, in Pawtucket, R.I. However, an injury suffered last week is preventing the former Chippewa from participating.

Gardner is a relief pitcher for the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

The Hartland native has a 6-3 record with a 3.75 ERA in 41 appearances. He has struck out 30 batters in 48.0 innings of work. Gardner's 41 pitching appearances rank second in the league.

Gardner, a first team All-MAC pick in 1998, signed with the Giants organization last winter after playing the previous five years in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays system. The last two seasons he was a member of the Durham Bulls, winning the International League "Relief Man of the Year" last season.

Gardner was briefly called up to the Rays' big league squad in 2002 and he made 12 appearances and went 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 innings.

It is the second time Gardner has been selected for the Triple-A All-Star game

This year's contest will be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m.