IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Another Ciriaco Walk-Off Gives G-Braves a 5-4, 10-inning Win

Published on April 13, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Gwinnett Braves' third baseman Pedro Ciriaco caused a celebration on a soggy Coolray Field for the second time in four days as his walk-off single gave the G-Braves (3-2) a 5-4 win Monday over the Norfolk Tides (2-3).

With the tying and winning runs in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Ciriaco grounded a pitch from Norfolk right-handed reliever Chaz Roe (BS, 1; L, 1-1) down the first-base line. The ball traveled most of the distance in foul territory before it curved back and hit the base, sending Todd Cunningham and Eury Perez scampering home to score the final two runs.

Ciriaco also had the game-winning hit in the 11th inning of a 5-4 G-Braves' victory over the Durham Bulls on April 10. He is hitting .318 through five games and leads the team with seven hits and four RBIs.

The G-Braves' triumph came after they lost a 3-0 lead they had carried into the sixth inning. The game lasted four hours and was interrupted by a 53-minute rain delay in the bottom of the second inning.

The Tides took a 4-3 lead in the top half of the 10th amid a myriad of miscues by Gwinnett. A fielding error by second baseman Jose Peraza and a throwing error by left-handed reliever Donnie Veal (W, 1-0) followed by a walk set the stage for a sacrifice fly to left field by Paul Janish that brought home Garabez Rosa for the go-ahead run.

The G-Braves had built their lead immediately after the rain delay against Norfolk right-handed starter Eddie Gamboa. Matt Kennelly and Barrett Kleinknecht stroked back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the second inning after Elmer Reyes reached on a one-out single.

A balk by Gamboa allowed Gwinnett designated hitter Cedric Hunter to score in the fourth to give the G-Braves a 3-0 advantage.

Gwinnett took that margin into the sixth, as right-handed starter Chien-Ming Wang consistently worked around traffic on the bases. He allowed nine hits in his 5.1 innings of work with two walks and six strikeouts. However, Norfolk stranded nine runners in the first 5.0 innings and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

They broke through with three runs to tie the game in the sixth. Two of the runs were charged to Wang after Henry Urrutia led off the inning with a double and Janish reached on an infield single. Janish scored on a base hit to right field by designated hitter Chris Parmelee off of righty reliever David Carpenter (BS, 1), and Nolan Reimold scored later on the same play when Peraza overthrew second base.

Peraza stole his first base of the season with a swipe of second in the fifth inning and notched his first multi-hit game of the year. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a walk, and each of the G-Braves' nine hitters reached base at least once. Perez added three steals on the night despite finishing 0-for-3.

Urrutia continued to beat up on the G-Braves with two hits to lead the Tides' offense. He is a career .330 hitter against Gwinnett with seven doubles, a triple, a home run and 15 RBIs.

The G-Braves will finish their series with Norfolk at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Coolray Field. Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 2.25 ERA), the Braves' No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, will make his second start of the season for Gwinnett. He will be opposed by fellow righty Tyler Wilson (0-1, 9.00 ERA) of the Tides. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM.

The series finale will also be a Two-For-Tuesday night. All Infield Box and Field Box seats are two for the price of one. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.

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International League Stories from April 13, 2015


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