IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Game Two of Richmond Homestand

Published on August 18, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Is the second of a four game home-and-home series and the first of two at Harbor Park. The 10th of 16 meetings; the fifth of eight at Harbor Park. Richmond is 6-3 vs. the Tides, 3-1 at Harbor Park. Richmond is 367-408 all-time vs. Norfolk. It is the 32nd of 48 games vs. South Division opponents, the 17th of 24 on the road. Richmond is 19-12 vs. the South, 10-6 on the road. It is the first of a two game road trip (Richmond was 3-3 on a homestand that ended last night). The Braves lead the South Division by a game over second-place Durham.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Braves beat the Tides 9-5 Friday at The Diamond. Richmond batted around in the eighth to score six runs after the Tides sent eight men up to take the lead in the top half. The Braves win maintains their lead in the South Division by a game over Durham. Norfolk took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Mike Cervenak. The Braves moved in front with a three run fifth. Gregor Blanco doubled a run home, Brent Lillibridge knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Brandon Jones chased a run home with a single. The Tides re-gained the lead in the eighth. Cesar Crespo cracked a two-run double; Cervenak singled a run in; and Jon Knott laced an RBI triple as Norfolk took a 5-3 lead. The Braves responded in the bottom half. Doug Clark tripled a run home and scored on a pinch-hit single by Carlos Mendez. With two outs, Blanco singled a run home to put the Braves in front 6-5. Brandon Jones smashed a three run homer to give the Braves a 9-5 advantage. The two clubs combined to score 10 runs and send 17 men to the plate in the eighth inning. Joey Devine picked up the win. Jim Miller took the loss. Blanco had three hits and Jones drove in four runs for the Braves. Cervenak, Adam Stern, and Jon Knott had two hits each for the Tides.

RETURN OF THE LONG BALL: The Braves hit six home runs in their final two games of the previous road trip. Richmond returned home and did not homer for over five straight games until Jones blast in the eighth last night. It was their first homer since August 10.

HOT AUGUST BATS: The Braves are hitting an IL best .320 in August. Richmond has scored nine or more runs in six of their 16 August games. They have scored six or more runs in nine of their 10 August wins. The Braves are averaging six runs a game in August. (96 runs in 16 games). Barbaro Canizares (25-56 .446) and Brandon Jones (.418 28-67) are first and third in the International League in hitting for the month of August.

LEADING THE WAY: The Braves lead the IL in batting average (.272), ERA (3.59), and fewest home runs allowed (78). They are tied with Durham for the most shutouts (13), They are second in steals (129). Richmond also leads in on-base percentage (.344). Gregor Blanco is tied for third in the league in runs scored (70). Martin Prado, now with Atlanta, is third in batting average (.320). The Braves are tied for second in the IL in fielding percentage (.982 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). Their 81 errors are the fewest in the IL. Richmond leads the league in percentage of opponents caught stealing (67-158 .424).

STREAKERS: Iker Franco (4-8 .500) and Brent Lillibridge (4-11 .363) have three game winning streaks. Wes Timmons is four for his last eight and has hits in five of his last six games. Brandon Jones has 11 multiple hit games in his last 13 contests. Barbaro Canizares five game hitting streak ended last night.

NUMBER CRUNCHING: Carlos Mendez leads the Braves in pinch hits (four) and pinch hit RBI (five). He has more pinch hit RBI than the rest of the club combined (four). The Braves have held sole possession of first place in the South every day since April 10. The Braves 36-26 road record is the best in the International League.

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International League Stories from August 18, 2007


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