IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Braves Defeat Chiefs in Series Opener, 8-3

June 18, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


SYRACUSE, NY - The Richmond Braves defeated the Syracuse Chiefs 8-3 in the series opener on Monday. The Braves improved to 40-28 while the Chiefs dropped to 32-37 on the season. It was the first meeting between the two clubs this season. The two teams split eight games during the 2006 season.

The first four Richmond batters reached safely in the second inning and the Braves went on to score four runs in the frame to take an early 4-0 lead. Graham Koonce led off the inning with a free pass that was followed with a single by Doug Clark. Larry Bigbie drove home Koonce and Clark with his two-run double to left, to put the Braves up 2-0. On the next pitch, Brent Lillibridge advanced Bigbie to third with a single. Then with two-outs, Gregor Blanco cleared both Bigbie and Lillibridge with his own two-run double, which gave the Braves a 4-0 lead.

Catcher Iker Franco smashed a two-out double to left field and was later driven home by a Wes Timmons' RBI single to center. Timmons' line-drive single up the middle gave the Braves a 5-0 lead.

The Braves added three more insurance runs in the eighth inning and took an 8-0 lead. Brayan Pena led off the inning with a single to right field. Koonce then walked to give the Braves two runners with no outs. The next batter, Doug Clark took the first pitch he saw and cranked it over the left-center field wall to give the Braves an 8-0 advantage.

Syracuse scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to avoid the shutout. Chiefs' catcher, Erik Kratz took the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for the three-run home run. Kratz, who graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., was 2-for-4 and hit his fourth home run of the season.

Richmond starter Ryan Baerlocher pitched seven-scoreless innings to pick up his first win as a Richmond Brave. It was the second-straight game that a Braves' starter held the opponent scoreless for seven innings. Rich Scalamandre, who allowed the three-run homer in the ninth inning, pitched the last two innings to close out the Braves' victory.

Every Richmond starter recorded a hit in Monday's 8-3 win. Doug Clark, who was 2-for-4 with the three-run home run, led the offensive attack. Wes Timmons and Larry Bigbie each recorded a pair of RBI in the win.

The Braves are scheduled to start LHP Dan Smith (2-2, 5.06 ERA) in the second game of the series on Tuesday. The Chiefs will send RHP Ismael Ramirez (1-4, 5.80 ERA) to the mound in the 7:00 p.m. start. Also as a reminder Braves' fans, there is a limited number of tickets available for the Richmond Braves' July 4th and 5th Fireworks Extravaganza at The Diamond. For more information or to reserve your seat, please call the R-Braves' ticket office at 804-359-4444 or visit the club's website, www.rbraves.com .

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International League Stories from June 18, 2007


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