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Gwinnett Stripers

G-Braves Shut Down by Mud Hens, 7-1

April 30, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Gwinnett Braves' right-handed starter Chien-Ming Wang produced his first quality start of the season Thursday, but Toledo pitching stymied his teammates as the Mud Hens (10-10) sent the G-Braves (8-13) to a 7-1 loss at Coolray Field.

Gwinnett managed six hits in 7.0 innings against Mud Hens' left-handed starter Mike Belfiore (W, 1-3), but only three baserunners made it beyond first base.

Two of those instances came in the third inning.

Sean Kazmar extended his hitting streak to nine games with a leadoff single and scored Gwinnett's lone run on a sacrifice fly by Jose Peraza. That gave the G-Braves a 1-0 advantage, but their only lead of the night did not last beyond the next half inning.

Toledo first baseman Mike Hessman tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth with the first of two home runs. His towering blast off the tent in left field was his second homer of the season.

Leadoff doubles powered Toledo to single tallies in both the sixth and seventh innings, putting the Mud Hens ahead 3-1. Tyler Collins began the sixth with a two-bagger to right field, and he scored on Steven Moya's second single of the game. Xavier Avery opened the seventh with a double, and Collins singled him home with two outs in the inning.

Wang (L, 0-2) lasted 7.0 innings overall, with three runs allowed on eight hits, three walks and four strikeouts. He also threw the most pitches of any G-Braves' starter in a single game this season with 112 (65 strikes).

Gwinnett fared no better against Toledo pitching late in the game. Belfiore finished his night with three strikeouts and worked around a leadoff single by Adonis Garcia in his final inning of work. Garcia was thrown out at third when he attempted to advance on a ground ball to shortstop.

Braeden Schlehuber represented the G-Braves' only other runner in scoring position when he drew a one-out walk the following inning from right-hander Josh Zeid (H, 2) and moved to second on Zeid's walk to Peraza. Lefty Ian Krol (H, 1) stranded both when got the only batter he faced, Cedric Hunter, to pop out to shortstop. Righty Alberto Cabrera set the G-Braves down in order in the ninth and had two strikeouts.

G-Braves' right-handed reliever Carlos Fisher pitched a scoreless eighth inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts, but the Mud Hens tacked on four runs in the ninth with two-run homers by Dixon Machado and Hessman off of right-hander Brandon Cunniff.

The homers accounted for Hessman's two hits in five at-bats. Collins drew a walk before Hessman's second home run and ended the night 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Moya also went 2-for-4 and had an RBI.

Gwinnett and Toledo will play the second game of their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Coolray Field. The G-Braves are scheduled to start right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (0-3, 2.08 ERA). The Mud Hens will send righty Buck Farmer (3-0, 3.00 ERA) to the mound. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Fans will also be treated to a spectacular post-game fireworks display for "Fireworks Friday." To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.

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