Bisons’ Cabrera, Harvey & Pascucci Named to AAA All-Star Team

Three Bisons players will represent Buffalo at the 25th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 11 at Coca-Cola Field, presented by the New Era Cap Company and The Buffalo News (7:00 p.m.). The International League announced its full 30-man All-Star Team today.

RHP FERNANDO CABRERA was elected as a starter for the International League while RHP MATT HARVEY and OF VALENTINO PASCUCCI were selected to the IL’s All-Star Squad as reserves.

Cabrera has made 32 appearances for the Bisons this season, the second most in the International League. The righty is a 15-for-16 saving games this season, with more saves than any other pitcher in the IL. Overall, Cabrera is 2-3 with a 4.04 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 35.2 innings of work.

Cabrera, who has pitched in more Bisons games (110) than any other pitcher in the team’s modern era, was also named to the IL All-Star Team while with the Herd during the 2005 season. He did not play in that game because of his promotion to Cleveland. He was also named an IL All-Star while with Pawtucket in 2009.

Harvey leads the Bisons in all three of the pitching triple crown categories. The Triple-A rookie has six wins, a 3.69 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 85.1 innings pitched. Harvey ranks third in the IL in strikeouts and is one of four pitchers in the league with 16 starts in 2012. Just 23-years old, the Mets’ #2 prospect by Baseball America is 6-3 overall on the season.

Harvey was a Florida State League All-Star last season for St. Lucie, his first year in professional baseball.

Pascucci leads the Bisons with 13 home runs and 45 RBI in a team-high 73 games played. He ranks 8th in the IL in homers and tied for 7th in runs driven in. Overall, Pascucci has hit .238 (61-256) with 11 doubles and a team-high 37 runs scored. The slugger has also drawn 57 walks this season –tie for second most in the International League- for a team-best .375 on-base percentage.

Pascucci was named a PCL All-Star during the 2007 season while playing for Albuquerque. He homered and drove in two for the PCL in a 7-5 loss to the IL squad.

The 2012 International League All-Star squad is made up of 13 elected players (including Cabrera) who have received the most votes from ballots submitted by club’s field managers and general managers (1/3), members of the media (1/3), and online fan voting (1/3). The elected players are joined by 17 additional All-Stars selected by the International League office. Each of the IL’s fourteen clubs will be represented in Buffalo.

All-Star Notes: The three All-Stars are the most players the Bisons have sent to the Triple-A All-Star Game since the 2005 season. That year, four Bisons –C Ryan Garko, INF Jake Gautreau, INF Jeff Leifer, DH Ernie Young- joined the IL squad in Sacramento, CA…The Bisons will also be represented by trainer Joe Golia and radio announcer Ben Wagner in the All-Star Game…If any player is promoted to the Major Leagues before the Triple-A All-Star Game, they will be replaced on the roster by the International League office.

All-Star Game Ticket Info: The Bisons announced that there are APPROXIMATELY 4,600 TICKETS REMAINING for the Triple-A All-Star Game. The club also announced that only 6,000 tickets remain for the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday, July 9 at Coca-Cola Field, presented by Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel.

Fans can purchase tickets to both events on Bisons.com or by calling THE-HERD at (716) 843-4373. There is also a limited number of Buffalo News All-Star Four-Packremaining. The package includes   four tickets (Sections 123, 125, 126, 128), f our hot dogs, four Coca-Colas and 15% off at Bisons gift shops at the All-Star Game for only $99.