
Charlotte Tops Gwinnett, 7-2
August 25, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC -The Charlotte Knights (68-63), behind the pitching of left-handed starter Erik Johnson, whipped the Gwinnett Braves (70-60) by a 7-2 score on Tuesday night in game two of the three-game series at BB&T Ballpark. Gwinnett has now lost consecutive games for the first time since August 13-14.
The G-Braves also fell 3.5 games out of the lead in the International League Wild Card standings after the team they are chasing, the Columbus Clippers, beat the Toledo Mud Hens 9-7. Gwinnett remains 3.0 games behind the first-place Norfolk Tides in the IL South Division because the Tides lost to the Durham Bulls 6-5 in 11 innings.
Charlotte scored in the first inning, and did not relinquish the lead the rest of the night. Knights' leadoff batter Leury Garcia singled to right field in the bottom of the first off of Gwinnett right-handed starter Ryan Weber. Garcia stole second, moved to third on a groundout to shortstop and scored on another groundout to shortstop by Dayan Viciedo for a 1-0 lead.
The Knights added to the lead in the bottom of the third after Tyler Colvin and Drew Garcia led off with back-to-back singles and both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Leury Garcia. Jason Coats followed with a single to center, scoring both runners for a 3-0 lead.
The first Gwinnett run came in the top of the sixth, as Eury Perez opened with an infield single off Johnson and was bunted to second by Todd Cunningham. Hector Olivera drilled a single to center, scoring Perez from second to make it 3-1. It was Olivera's first run batted in as a G-Brave.
Rob Brantly quickly widened the gap in the bottom of the inning with a three-run home run to right field off of right-handed reliever Jason Hursh, which put the Knights in front 6-1.
The final Gwinnett run came in the top of the seventh. Sean Kazmar and Daniel Castro opened with back-to-back singles off of Johnson. Luis Mateo then hit into a 6-4-3 double play, moving Kazmar to third. A wild pitch by Johnson plated Kazmar to make it 6-2.
With left-hander Hunter Cervenka on the mound for Gwinnett in the bottom of the seventh, the final Charlotte run scored after Coats reached on an error, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch for the 7-2 final score.
Weber (L, 4-3) pitched 5.0 innings with five hits, three earned runs and three strikeouts. Hursh went 2.0 innings with three hits, three earned runs, one walk and one strikeout. Cervenka worked 1.0 innings with one unearned run and two strikeouts.
Johnson (W, 11-8) beat the G-Braves for the third time this season. He pitched 8.0 innings with 10 hits, two earned runs and seven strikeouts. Left-hander Zach Phillips pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout.
Five Gwinnett batters went 2-for-4 in the loss, including Perez, Olivera, Kazmar, Castro and Cedric Hunter. Olivera drove in one run, and Perez and Kazmar each scored a run. Hunter has now hit safely in 19 straight games, which equals Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Austin Romine for the longest hitting streak in the league this season.
For Charlotte, Colvin was 2-for-3, Coats was 2-for-4 and Brantly was 1-for-4 with a three-run homer.
The G-Braves and Knights wrap up the three-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark. Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (6-3, 3.59 ERA) will start for Gwinnett. The Knights will start righty Hector Noesi (1-4, 4.30). Tony Schiavone has the call beginning at 6:30 p.m. on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com.
International League Stories from August 25, 2015
- Bats Bounce Back against Indians with 9-5 Win - Louisville Bats
- Offensive Outburst from Clippers Downs Mud Hens - Toledo Mud Hens
- Tides Tripped in Extras - Norfolk Tides
- Bisons Fall to IronPigs, 9-3 - Buffalo Bisons
- Johnson Dominates G-Braves, Knights Win 7-2 Tuesday - Charlotte Knights
- Early Outbursts Down Indians, 9-5 - Indianapolis Indians
- Pigs Use 16-Hit Attack to Topple Bisons, 9-3 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Charlotte Tops Gwinnett, 7-2 - Gwinnett Stripers
- PawSox Blank RailRiders - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Cole Hurls Chiefs Past Red Wings - Syracuse Mets
- Haviland Pitches PawSox to 2-0 Win - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Halfway to Hensville Celebration - Toledo Mud Hens
- IronPigs Look for Fourth Straight Win - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Blue Jays Claim RHP Donn Roach off Waivers from Cincinnati - Buffalo Bisons
- Johnson Named IL Trainer of the Year - Charlotte Knights
- Durham Bulls Game Notes - Durham Bulls
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Lehigh Valley - Buffalo Bisons
- Orioles Select the Contract of INF Paul Janish from Triple-A - Norfolk Tides
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Snell Nominated for USA Today Player of the Year - Durham Bulls
- Louisville Bats Release 2016 Schedule - Louisville Bats
- Gwinnett Braves Homestand Highlights: August 27-30 - Gwinnett Stripers
- 13's Winner: Tribe Walks off Bats in Bottom of 13th - Indianapolis Indians
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