IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Charlotte Crushes Gwinnett, 10-3

June 1, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. - The opener of a four-game home-and-home series between the top two teams in the International League South Division went to second-place Charlotte on Friday night at Coolray Field. The Knights put up 10 runs on the strength of three home runs to defeat the South-leading Gwinnett Braves, 10-3. Charlotte's win trims the G-Braves' lead in the division to 1.5 games.

Starter Jair Jurrjens (L, 3-3) surrendered 10 runs, six earned, on 12 hits in a losing effort. Former IL MVP Dan Johnson blasted solo home runs off Jurrjens in the third and fifth innings, and Hector Gimenez homered as well in the fifth against the G-Braves' right-hander.

The G-Braves jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Tyler Pastornicky singled in his first plate appearance with Gwinnett, took second on a single by Stefan Gartrell, stole third and scored on an RBI single by Felix Pie.

That lead would prove short-lived as Charlotte scored four times in the second inning. Jordan Danks doubled with one out and Jim Gallagher followed with a walk, and Drew Garcia scored them both with a double to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. An error by Gartrell in left field allowed Garcia to score, and Tyler Kuhn grounded out to plate Ray Olmedo, making it 4-1 Charlotte.

Johnson made it 5-1 with a solo home run to right off Jurrjens in the third, and after a sacrifice fly by Jose Yepez cut the Gwinnett deficit to 5-2 in the fourth, Johnson blasted off again as part of a five-run fifth. Gimenez went back-to-back with Johnson with a home run to right, and a throwing error by Pastornicky on a potential inning-ending groundout opened the door for three more Knights runs. By the time the fifth inning ended, Charlotte held a commanding 10-2 lead.

Jose Lugo and Dusty Hughes combined for 4.1 scoreless innings in relief of Jurrjens, but the Gwinnett bats could only muster one run against the Charlotte relief tandem of Greg Infante and Jhan Carlos Marinez. The two worked 4.0 innings in relief of starter Charlie Leesman. The left-handed Leesman (W, 5-4) limited the G-Braves to two runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings.

Ernesto Mejia was once again the offensive story of the game for the G-Braves as he finished the night 3-for-4 with a run scored. Mejia is now batting a team-leading .323 on the season for Gwinnett.

Six different Charlotte players registered multi-hit nights, led by Danks, who went 3-for-4. Johnson, Garcia and Greg Golson each went 2-for-5 with two RBIs apiece for the Knights.

The International League South-leading Gwinnett Braves (32-23) conclude their 10-game homestand on Saturday in the series finale against the Charlotte Knights (31-25). Right-hander Kris Medlen (0-0, 0.00) will make his first start since being optioned to Gwinnett by Atlanta. He'll be opposed by Charlotte right-hander Terry Doyle (4-3, 3.05). First pitch at Coolray Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. The game will be broadcast on radio on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM with Tony Schiavone calling play-by-play.

The first 2,000 fans attending Saturday night's game will receive a Chopper Coin Bank presented by Delta Community Credit Union. Chopper and the G-Braves will also celebrate a belated "Groundhogs Day" at Coolray Field.

Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com for more information.

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International League Stories from June 1, 2012


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