Oct. 3, 2008

TAMPA, Fla. - Former Ohio pitcher Adam Russell has earned a trip to the Major League Baseball Playoffs for the first time in his career by solidifying a spot on the Chicago White Sox' playoff roster. The American League Central Division Champion-White Sox opened their playoff run Thursday, with a 6-4 loss at the Tampa Bay Rays, but Russell did not see any action on the mound.

The right-hander, who pitched for the Bobcats from 2002-2004, has appeared in 22 games for the South Siders, pitching 26 innings of relief work in 2008. During the regular season, Russell accumulated a 4-0 record with a 5.19 ERA. He allowed 30 hits, 15 runs, but only one home run, and struck out 22 batters, while walking only 10.

The North Olmsted, Ohio native was drafted by the White Sox in the sixth round of the June 2004 draft and spent four and a half years working his way up the minor leagues. Russell was called up from the Triple-A Charlotte Knights on June 13, 2008 and made his Major League debut June 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he pitched an inning of scoreless baseball.

The last Bobcat baseball player to land in Major League Baseball's postseason was Bob Brenly, when, as manager, he led the Arizona Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series title. He also managed the Diamondbacks to the 2002 postseason.

Russell and the White Sox will look to even the ALDS at one game each when they continue their best-of-five series with the Rays Friday at 5 p.m. in Tampa.