Gwinnett Holds off Rochester, 3-2
April 26, 2017 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
ROCHESTER, NY - One day after failing to hang on to a late two-run lead, the Gwinnett Braves (12-6) rebounded with a fine bullpen performance to edge the Rochester Red Wings (9-8) 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon in game two of their three-game series at Frontier Field.
The G-Braves got on the board in the top of the first when Ozzie Albies led off the game with a single to left. A passed ball off the mitt of Rochester catcher John Ryan Murphy moved Albies to second and a ground out to second by Johan Camargo pushed him to third. Mel Rojas Jr. then scored Albies from third with a sacrifice fly to left for a 1-0 G-Braves lead.
Gwinnett added two more in the top of the third off Red Wings starter David Hurlbut. David Freitas led off the inning with a double and scored from second when Albies hit a double of his own to left field. Albies then stole third base and scampered home on a two-out infield single by Rojas Jr. to push the G-Braves' lead to 3-0.
Rochester cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth as with two outs, Gwinnett starter Luke Jackson issued a walk to Niko Goodrum. Murphy plated Goodrum from first with a long double to left, cutting the G-Braves lead to 3-1 after four innings, ending Jackson's start.
After two scoreless innings from lefty Sam Freeman, the G-Braves went back to the bullpen and brought in Jason Hursh to pitch the bottom of the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double to left to Murphy. Quintin Berry pushed Murphy to third with a long fly out to center, and Ehire Adrianza followed with a single to right, scoring Murphy and making it a one run game at 3-2. J.B. Shuck then singled to left, moving Adrianza to second.
However, with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first, Hursh retired the next two batters to escape the seventh with the lead intact. He then pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth with two strikeouts. In the ninth, Gwinnett turned to David Peterson, who retired the side in order to finish off the win and earn his first save of the season.
Freeman (W, 2-1) got the win in relief of Jackson with two scoreless innings, walking one. Jackson had gone 4.0 innings in his first start since returning to Gwinnett from Atlanta on April 20, allowing one earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out three. Hursh (H, 3) worked 2.0 innings with three hits, one earned run and three strikeouts. Peterson (S, 1) pitched 1.0 inning to finish Gwinnett's seventh road win of the season, which is tied for the league lead.
For the Red Wings, Hurlbut (L, 1-2) went 6.1 innings, gave up seven hits, three runs (two earned) with one walk and three strikeouts. Drew Rucinski pitched 1.2 innings with two strikeouts. Alex Wimmers worked 1.0 inning with one strikeout.
Gwinnett was led by Albies, who was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs, an RBI, and his league-leading eighth stolen base. Freitas was 2-for-3 with a double and a run, and Rojas Jr. was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Rochester was paced by Adrianza who was 2-for-5 and Murphy who was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.
Gwinnett and Rochester conclude the three-game series Thursday morning at Frontier Field with an 11:05 a.m. first pitch. Reigning International League Pitcher of the Week Lucas Sims (2-0, 2.70) will start for the G-Braves. The Red Wings have left-hander Jason Wheeler (2-1, 4.76) scheduled to take the mound. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM "The Other Side of the River" beginning at 10:35 a.m.
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Appalachian League Stories from April 26, 2017
- Gwinnett Holds off Rochester, 3-2 - Danville Otterbots
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