IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Red Sox Storm Back to Edge Gwinnett, 5-4

Published on May 17, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


PAWTUCKET, RI - With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Pawtucket's Bryce Brentz socked a three-run walk-off homer off of reliever Wirfin Obispo to lead the Red Sox (25-17) to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Gwinnett Braves (16-27) on Friday night. Brentz's seventh home run of the year secured a split of the four-game series at McCoy Stadium.

The blast by Brentz capped a comeback for the Red Sox, who trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Until that time, they could not solve Gwinnett starter Daniel Rodriguez, who had tossed 6.0 scoreless, four-hit innings.

It was the Gwinnett bullpen that let this one get away.

With a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, reliever Kameron Loe allowed two men to reach base but secured two outs. Left-hander Juan Cedeno was brought on from the bullpen to face left-handed hitting Jackie Bradley, Jr., and he immediately hit Bradley with a pitch to load the bases. A walk to Jose Iglesias forced in a run and trimmed the lead to 4-1.

Cedeno got out of the seventh inning with no further problems, but yielded a leadoff double to Brentz to start the bottom of the eighth. Ronald Bermudez cut the Gwinnett lead to 4-2 with a two-out single to center scoring Brentz. Ryan Buchter came on for Cedeno and stranded a pair of inherited runners to escape the jam.

But in the bottom of the ninth, Buchter walked Bradley, and after striking out Iglesias, gave up a double to Drew Sutton. Obispo was brought in with the tying runs in scoring position, and he served up the game-winning blast to Brentz on a 1-1 pitch.

Prior to the ninth inning, the G-Braves had led since scoring twice in the second inning. Gwinnett broke the scoreless tie when Jose Yepez delivered a two-out single to right scoring Brandon Boggs and Joe Leonard.

Gwinnett added another run in the fifth to make it 3-0. Jose Constanza laid down a bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error by Pawtucket starting pitcher Alfredo Aceves. The hit extended Constanza's hitting streak to 14 games, the longest streak in the International League this season. Todd Cunningham then bunted Constanza to third, and Tyler Pastornicky drove him in with a single to left.

In the top of the seventh, the G-Braves increased the lead to 4-0. Yepez led off with a single to left off of reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith, Constanza followed with a bunt single and Cunningham was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Gwinnett, however, only mustered one run in the inning as Yepez scored from third on a double play groundout by Pastornicky.

Obispo (L, 0-2) was credited with one earned run on one hit and did not record an out for Gwinnett. Buchter (H, 2) went 0.2 innings with two earned runs on one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Cedeno (H, 6) worked 1.0 inning with one earned run on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Loe was credited for 0.2 innings with one earned run on one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Rodriguez took the tough-luck loss despite 6.0 scoreless innings, his fourth quality start of the year.

Aceves worked 5.0 innings in a no-decision for the Red Sox. He gave up six hits, three runs, on earned, with two walks and four strikeouts. Rowland-Smith went 3.0 innings with two hits, one earned run and one strikeout. Anthony Carter (W, 1-0) worked the top of the ninth for the win with one hit and one strikeout.

Constanza had a 3-for-5 night for the G-Braves including his third triple of the year. Leonard and Yepez each went 2-for-4, with Yepez driving in two of the four Gwinnett runs.

For the Red Sox, Brentz was 2-for-5 with a double, home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Sutton and Bermudez were each 2-for-4.

The Gwinnett Braves return to Coolray Field to begin an eight-game homestand on Saturday, May 18. Game one of a four-game series against the Louisville Bats begins at 7:05 PM. Left-hander Yohan Flande (1-3, 4.95) will start for the G-Braves against right-hander Greg Reynolds (3-0, 2.92) of the Bats. Listen to the game on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

The first 2,000 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a Freddie Freeman Bobblehead courtesy of Coolray Heating and Cooling. Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

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International League Stories from May 17, 2013


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