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Gwinnett Stripers

Wang Flirts with No-Hitter, Beats G-Braves

August 29, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Chien-Ming Wang won an American League high 19 games with the New York Yankees in 2006, and on Friday night at Coolray Field, he displayed flashes of his former dominance. Wang flirted with a no-hitter for 5.1 innings and led the Charlotte Knights (63-78) to a 7-2 win over the Gwinnett Braves (62-76).

Wang (W, 13-8) lost the no-hitter on a double by Steve Lerud with one out in the sixth inning, but went on to throw 7.1 innings of two-run baseball. The right-hander allowed five hits, walked two and struck out five.

While Wang was nearly untouchable, Gwinnett starter Aaron Northcraft was shaky out of the gate as he walked five of the first six batters he faced. The last two walks came back to haunt him as they sparked a five-run second inning for Charlotte. With two men in scoring position, Justin Jirschele singled up the middle to make it 2-0. Jirschele came around to score on an RBI double by Jared Mitchell, and Marcus Semien (14) raised the lead to 5-0 with a two-run home run to left.

Charlotte added another run in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Michael Taylor (6), pushing the lead to 6-0.

Lerud ended the no-no in the sixth, but it would take the G-Braves until the eighth to score against Wang. Brandon Boggs walked to start the inning and moved to third on a double by Elmer Reyes. After a strikeout, Ozzie Martinez laced a two-run double to left-center to cut the deficit to 6-2. Todd Cunningham singled to put runners on the corners with two outs, but reliever Taylor Thompson struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the threat.

In the ninth, Andy Wilkins (30) cracked his International League leading 30th homer of the season, extending the lead to 7-2.

The G-Braves would get no closer as Thomspon turned in 1.2 scoreless, two-hit innings to finish the game. The loss ended Gwinnett's four-game home winning streak and sent the club back into fourth place in the IL South Division.

Northcraft (L, 0-7) allowed five runs on three hits over 4.0 innings for Gwinnett. He walked a season-high seven batters while striking out two. Left-hander Daniel Rodriguez yielded a run on one hit over 3.0 innings in relief. Right-handers Gus Schlosser and Pedro Beato each worked 1.0 inning, with Beato allowing the final run.

Offensively, the G-Braves were led by Martinez, who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Six other players collected hits on the night.

Taylor led the Knights, going 2-for-4 with a triple, home run and one RBI. Jirschele and Semien had two RBIs each.

The Gwinnett Braves play their final home game of 2014 on Saturday night at Coolray Field, a 7:05 PM game against the Charlotte Knights. Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (3-5, 5.32) starts for the G-Braves, while the Knights will counter with left-hander Carlos Rodon (0-0, 2.57). The radio broadcast will air at 6:50 PM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app. The game will also be televised on WSB-TV 2.2 MeTV with broadcasters Van Earl Wright and Dave Lezotte.

Saturday night is "Fan Appreciation Night" at Coolray Field, featuring a 2015 Magnet Schedule giveaway sponsored by Charter Business. It's also "G-Braves vs. Cancer Night" as the team raises funds for childhood cancer in conjunction with the Vs. Cancer Foundation and the Rally Foundation. If the Gwinnett Braves raise their collective team goal of $10,000 by Saturday, select players, coaches and front office members will shave their heads before the game. Fans can donate now by going online to gbraves.vs-cancer.org.

Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com to purchase.

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