IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Braves fall 5-4 at Ottawa

June 2, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


OTTAWA - The Richmond Braves dropped a 5-4 decision to the Ottawa Lynx on Saturday night. The Lynx tied the game at four, with three runs in the fourth inning. The game remained tied at four until the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Ottawa second baseman Joe Thurston took a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall for the walk-off home run. It gave the Lynx a 5-4 victory and evened the series at one game a piece. The Braves dropped to 31-21 while Lynx improved to 25-27 on the season.

Ottawa jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a walk and a pair of singles. With two outs, Jim Rushford collected the second single of the inning and the first RBI of the game, when he drove home Chris Roberson from second, to put the Lynx in front 1-0.

Richmond came back and scored three runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. The Braves' newly acquired Brent Lillibridge, and catcher Iker Franco led off the inning with back-to-back free passes. A batter later, Gregor Blanco, tied the game at one, when he reached on a force out that retired Franco at second. The next Braves batter, J.C. Holt cleared the bases with his two-out, two-run double to left field, to give Richmond a 3-1 lead.

The Braves' Doug Clark added to the lead in the top of the fourth with a lead-off solo home run to center field. Clark's second home run in as many games, gave the Braves a 4-1 lead.

The Lynx got things going in their half of the fourth when starting pitcher, Bubba Nelson and Chris Roberson collected back-to-back, one-out doubles. Joe Thurston, then drove Nelson and Roberson home with his two-run single to center. Ottawa first baseman Gary Burnham, tied the game at four when he drove home Thurston on a two-out single to left.

The game remained tied at four until the bottom of the ninth. Joe Thurston, came up with one out and quickly ended the contest and gave the Lynx a 5-4 win, with his walk-off home run.

After collecting a season-high 18 hits on Friday night, the Braves managed just four in the loss. Brayan Pena, who was 1-for-4, drove home two of the Braves' four runs. Doug Clark's home run on Friday night was his first in 51 games this season. He copied his swing from Friday and went deep for the second time in as many games.

Ryan Baerlocher got the no-decision after allowing four earned runs in six innings of action in his Richmond Braves debut. Rich Scalamandre came on to pitch a scoreless seventh and eighth innings before giving up the walk-off home run to Thurston. Scalamandre dropped to 0-3 with a 7.82 ERA.

Chris Roberson and Joe Thurston were each 3-for-5 in the Lynx win. Thurston drove home three of five Ottawa runs. Relief pitcher Brian Sanches picked up his first win of the season and evened his record at 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA. Ottawa starter Bubba Nelson pitched allowed four earned runs in seven innings in the no-decision start. Matt Smith, who pitched a scoreless eighth, also saw action out of the Ottawa bullpen.

The Braves continue their series with Ottawa on Sunday. Richmond is scheduled to start LHP Dan Smith (1-0, 4.76 ERA) against Rochester LHP J.A. Happ (1-2, 4.09 ERA) in the third of a four-game series. First pitch in the Sunday matinee is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

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