The Northwest League All-Star Break is a special respite for not only the 190 players on the eight teams in the loop who are not taking part in the festivities in Eugene, but also a break for the front office staffs and radio broadcasters.

In fact, Pat Dillon (Voice of the Everett Aquasox) mentioned on Facebook that it was the first time in his 20-year broadcast career that he had three-straight days off during a season.

However, things in the Boise Hawks camp were busy – because of a pair of big events – neither in the City of Trees.

It started (and ended) in Denver – as the 106th former Boise player made his Major League debut – and made a big splash.

Javy Baez as a Boise Hawk in 2011

Javier Baez, who spent the final two weeks of the 2011 season with the Hawks, received the call-up by the Cubs and started at second base on Tuesday, going 0-for-5 in his first five at bats in Chicago’s marathon game at Coors Field.  However, it was his sixth AB that will live in Cubs lore, as he crushed a fastball over the right-center wall for his first MLB homer – which ended up being a game-winner.

While this was going on, the NWL All-Star Game was played at P.K. Park – with four of the six Boise Hawks finding their way into the starting line-up for the South team (Rashad Crawford in CF, Mark Zagunis in RF, Justin Marra at C, Jesse Hodges at 3B).  Zagunis had the lone hit among the group, roping a fourth inning double and was one of three players in the game to reach third base.

The game would end in a 0-0 draw in 10 innings (per NWL rules) – the lowest scoring All-Star Game (outside of the 1968 MLB All-Star Game won by the NL, 1-0) – next to a football field (Autzen Stadium) which had a 0-0 draw between Oregon/Oregon State in 1983.

ROSTER MOVES – Francisco Carrillo has been promoted to Class-A Kane County, while RHP Zak Hermans (30th round pick in 2013 out of Princeton) joins the club from Kane County.