IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

G-Braves End Road Trip with 11-2 Loss at Charlotte

July 3, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - Behind a complete game from former Major League right-handed starter Brad Penny and a four homerun attack, the Charlotte Knights (45-37) whipped the Gwinnett Braves (42-39) by a score of 11-2 on Friday night in the second game of the day/night doubleheader at BB&T Ballpark.

With the loss, the G-Braves season-best five game winning streak came to an end. Still, they ended the nine-game road trip with six wins, including two in the three games at Charlotte. Gwinnett had won the earlier game of the Friday doubleheader by an 11-4 score.

In the second game, the Knights gave a rude welcome to Gwinnett right-handed starter Jorge Reyes, who had just received the call up from Double-A Mississippi.

While Penny's sinker was keeping the G-Braves at bay, the Knights broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back doubles by Chris Marrero and Drew Garcia made it 1-0. Tyler Saladino drove in Garcia with a single to center to run the lead to 2-0 and a single to left by Matt Davidson plated Saladino for a 3-0 lead.

The lead grew to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Trayce Thompson and George Kottaras hit back-to-back solo home runs off of Reyes.

The Knights piled on more in the bottom of the fifth, as Tyler Colvin jacked a Reyes pitch over the wall in right field for a three-run homer and an 8-0 Charlotte lead.

The first run for Gwinnett came in the top of the sixth. Barrett Kleinknecht led off with a single to left, moved to second when Jose Yepez walked and advanced to third when a single by Mallex Smith loaded the bases with nobody out. Jose Peraza plated Kleinknecht with by hitting into a fielder's choice groundout to cut the lead to 8-1.

But the Knights added more in the bottom of the sixth. Right-handed reliever Arodys Vizcaino, in his first Gwinnett outing of the season, gave up a two-run double to Saladino that pushed the lead to 10-1.

The G-Braves brought Kleinknecht in from first base to pitch the bottom of the eighth, and he gave up a solo homer to Matt Tuiasosopo to make it 11-1.

The final run of the game came in the top of the ninth when Smith tripled off of Penny and scored from third on a ground out to second by Peraza for the 11-2 final.

Reyes (L, 0-1) was tagged with eight hits and eight earned runs in 5.0 innings of work. He walked two and struck out three. Vizcaino went 1.0 inning with three hits, two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Righty Aaron Kurcz worked 1.0 inning with one hit, and Kleinknecht pitched 1.0 inning with one hit and one earned run.

Penny earned his first complete-game victory since September 2009 while he was with the San Francisco Giants. He pitched all 9.0 innings with five hits, two earned runs, one walk and no strikeouts.

For the G-Braves Smith was 2-for-4 with a run. Peraza went 0-for-4 but drove in both Gwinnett runs. He had six RBIs total in the doubleheader, and in the two games Smith went 4-for-9

For the Knights, Saladino was 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs; Garcia went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI; Colvin was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer; and Kottaras was 2-for-4 with a solo homer.

The G-Braves and Knights move to Coolray Field for the next three games. Game one will be at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night. Gwinnett with pitch right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (1-4, 3.40 ERA), and Charlotte will go with righty Shawn Haviland (3-4, 4.60 ERA). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive mini America flags to celebrate Independence Day, and G-Braves' players and coaches will wear special patriotic jerseys presented by Republic Services. They will be auctioned off during the game until 9 p.m. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Operation One Voice. After the game, fans will be treated to a spectacular Independence Day fireworks display. 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 July 3, 2015


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