It was Curly of Three Stooges fame, who uttered the famous line: “I’m a victim of circumstances.” Mick Abel could have said the same thing after his start against Atlanta was messed up by rain and his next start against San Diego was one to forget. Those two events led to him being optioned back to Lehigh Valley on the Fourth of July with the reason given being that he needed to “regain his confidence.” In his first start back, his confidence is fine. In his first start back, Abel threw six shutout innings in Syracuse and allowed just one hit and one walk. The outing was strong enough to earn him the International League Pitcher of the Week honor for July 7-13. The only hit he allowed came in the sixth inning and it took him just 64 pitches to get through the outing. On the season, the righty is 6-2 with a 2.00 ERA and has 27 walks to go with 71 strikeouts in 63 innings with the IronPigs. He has also allowed just 45 hits. 

If not for Abel, IronPigs starter Gabe Mosser might have gotten the league honors after he threw six shutout innings against the Mets and allowed just three hits and a walk. Alan Rangel gave up just two earned runs in his six innings of work and struck out seven. Out of the bullpen, Adonis Medina threw three perfect innings in two outings for the Pigs.