IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

G-Braves Drop Opener to Bats, 6-5

Published on May 18, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - With a season-high 8,903 fans in attendance at Coolray Field, the Gwinnett Braves (16-28) came up a run short to the Louisville Bats (21-22) on Saturday night, falling 6-5 in the opener of the four-game series. Gwinnett scored three runs over the final two innings, but couldn't complete a comeback from four runs down.

The G-Braves struggled at the start, as starter Yohan Flande (L, 1-4) was roughed up for six runs, four earned on 13 hits over 6.0 innings. The left-hander never settled into a groove as the Bats' offense applied constant pressure.

In the top of the third inning, the Bats scored two runs on four consecutive singles. Billy Hamilton led off with a bunt single, and Kristopher Negron singled to left to put runners on first and second. After a double steal by Hamilton and Negron, Denis Phipps and Felix Perez followed with RBI singles to open up a 2-0 lead.

Gwinnett scored twice in the fourth against Louisville starter Greg Reynolds. Jose Constanza and Tyler Pastornicky each singled to start the frame, and after a one-out walk to Ernesto Mejia loaded the bases, Brandon Boggs smacked a fastball into the right-center gap. The double scored both Constanza and Pastornicky to tie the game. The G-Braves had a chance to take the lead as Alden Carrithers was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Matt Pagnozzi grounded into a double play to erase the threat.

Henry Rodriguez put the Bats back on top in the fifth, belting his second homer of the year to give Louisville a 3-2 lead.

The Bats continue to add to the lead as the top of the order hurt the G-Braves again in the seventh. Hamilton, Negron, Phipps and Perez connected for hits to open the frame against Flande. After an RBI single by Phipps, Perez loaded the bases again with another single.

Newest G-Brave, Pat Egan was called upon to relieve Flande with the bases full and none out. With the infield drawn in, the right-hander got Rodriguez to hit a chopper to second base for a potential force at the plate, but an errant throw by Pastornicky allowed both Negron and Phipps to score, making it 6-2. Egan worked his way out of the further damage, inducing three groundouts to end the inning.

Egan threw 2.0 scoreless innings, keeping Gwinnett in the game.

After being limited to two runs on five hits over 7.0 innings by Reynolds (W, 4-0), the G-Braves came to life in the eighth. Joey Terdoslavich doubled with one out and Boggs hit a two out single, putting runners on the corners. Corey Wimberly and Pagnozzi delivered back-to-back RBI singles, trimming the Louisville lead to 6-4. With the tying run on first base, Sean Kazmar was set down on strikes by reliever Yohan Pino, ending the threat.

The G-Braves made it interesting in the ninth. Joe Leonard and Constanza hit consecutive singles off of Pino, bringing the potential winning run to the plate. After a strikeout and a balk, Terdoslavich got the G-Braves closer with a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 6-5. Mejia came up with a chance to win it with two outs, but he grounded out to end the game. Pino (S, 4) finished with one earned run over the final 1.1 innings for the save.

Boggs went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Leonard contributed with two hits off the bench to lead the G-Braves. Constanza extended his International League-leading hitting streak to 15 games with a 2-for-4 night.

Phipps led the Bats, as he went 3-for 5 with two RBI. Six Louisville hitters collected multi-hit games on the evening.

The Gwinnett Braves play game two of the series against the Louisville Bats on Sunday, first pitch scheduled for 2:05 PM. Atlanta Braves' right-hander Brandon Beachy will make a minor league rehab start for Gwinnett, while the Bats will counter with right-hander Pedro Villarreal (1-2, 4.53 ERA). Listen to the game on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play. The game will also be televised live on CSS.

Sunday is "Family Day," featuring Pre-Game Catch on the Field from 1:00 to 1:15 PM and the Post-Game Kids Base Run (kids 12 and under) after the game. Sunday is also "Bark in the Park," as you can bring your pooch to the ballpark to hang out with other four-legged friends on the Lawn. Stop by the Gildan tent on the Coolray Field Main Concourse as well on Sunday to receive a free pair of underwear, courtesy of Gildan! For tickets, call the Coolray Field Box Office at (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com.

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International League Stories from May 18, 2013


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