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Gwinnett Stripers

G-Braves Top Knights, 9-3

May 21, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - In a game that saw 12 runs, 22 hits, four errors and a two-hour, 16-minute rain delay, the Gwinnett Braves (22-22) whipped the Charlotte Knights (22-22) by a 9-3 score on Saturday night in game one of a two game series at BB&T Ballpark.

With the win, the G-Braves and Knights are now tied for first in the International League South Division. The final game of the series is set for Sunday afternoon.

After a scoreless first inning, Gwinnett struck first with two runs in the top of the second, as Adonis Garcia cracked a lead-off single to center off Charlotte starter Terance Marin and moved to third on a double to left by Sean Kazmar Jr. Brandon Snyder plated both with a single to right.

In the bottom of the second, with Aaron Blair making his first Triple-A start since April 19, the Knights cut into the lead. With the bases loaded and one out, a wild pitch allowed Jason Coats to score from third to make it 2-1 Gwinnett.

Then at 7:19 p.m. heavy rains moved into the Charlotte area, and the game was not able to continue until 9:35 p.m.

In the top of the sixth, with reliever Brad Goldberg on the mound, Emilio Bonifacio drilled a leadoff single to right, stole second base, moved to third when the throw from Charlotte catcher Vinnie Rottino went into center field and scored when the following throw from Charlotte center fielder Jason Bourgeois skipped past Charlotte third baseman Matt Davidson.

Holding a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh, the G-Braves loaded the bases against Charlotte reliever Michael Ynoa with one out. Bonifacio plated the fourth Gwinnett run with a single to right scoring Jace Peterson from second. Kazmar later singled to center scoring Bonifacio for a 5-1 lead.

But in the bottom of the seventh, Danny Hayes connected on a two-run triple to center off Gwinnett's Matt Marksberry to cut the lead to 5-3.

The decisive inning was the top of the eighth with Charlotte's Tyler Barnette on the mound. Snyder led off with a single to center, stole second and moved to third on Rottino's second throwing error of the game. Emerson Landoni was hit by a pitch, and an intentional walk to Peterson loaded the bases. Bonifacio hit a sharp grounder to third with the infield pulled in, allowing Snyder to score for a 6-3 lead. Garcia followed with a two-run single to center to raise the score to 8-3, and Kazmar rounded out the scoring in the game with a double to center scoring Garcia from first with the G-Braves' ninth run.

Blair went 3.0 innings with four hits, one earned run, three walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision. Lucas Harrell (W, 1-0), who earlier in the day was signed by the Atlanta Braves, picked up the win by going 3.2 innings with four hits, two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. Marksberry (H, 2) worked 1.1 innings with two hits and two strikeouts. Rob Wooten pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth with one hit, one walk and one strikeout.

Marin (L, 3-4) went 3.1 innings with four hits, two earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Goldberg worked 2.2 innings with one hit, one earned run, three walks and four strikeouts. Ynoa pitched 1.0 inning, gave up three hits and two earned runs while striking out three. Barnette went 0.2 of an inning with three hits, four earned runs and two walks. Phillippe Aumont worked 1.1 innings with three strikeouts.

The Gwinnett 11-hit attack was led by Garcia, who was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Kazmar was 3-for-5 with a run, two doubles and two RBIs. Bonifacio went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Snyder was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Peterson was 1-for-4 with two runs and a double.

The Knights were led by J.B. Shuck, who went 3-for-5. Leury Garcia, Coats and Bourgeois each went 2-for-5.

The G-Braves and Knights conclude the series pn Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. in Charlotte. Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (1-3, 3.28) starts for Gwinnett. Charlotte has right-hander Scott Carroll (0-1, 7.56) scheduled. Tony Schiavone has the call of the action beginning at 1:35 p.m. on 97.7 FM.

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics

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International League Stories from May 21, 2016


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