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IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Gwinnett Braves vs. Scranton Wilkes/Barre Playoff Preview

September 8, 2009 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


The Gwinnett Braves face a tall order as they extend their inaugural season and head into the Governors' Cup Playoffs as the Wild Card club.

Gwinnett concluded the regular season Monday with a .500-or-better record against all but two members of the International League. They will face one of those two in Round One of the Governors' Cup.

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (81-60), champions of the IL-North Division, got the best of the G-Braves (81-63) in 2009, winning five of eight in the regular season. Judging by the two clubs' respective starts, it's not all that surprising. The SWB-Yankees opened the season hotter than any team in the IL, winning each of their first 11 and 14 of their first 15 games. Meanwhile, Gwinnett opened their first season losing 12 of the first 17.

Even once Scranton/Wilkes-Barre began to cool, they were still able to take three of four at Gwinnett Stadium June 11-14. The two clubs split the series in Pennsylvania immediately following the All-Star Break. The final series between then included the first two of Gwinnett's season-long seven-game win streak that sparked them on the road to the playoffs.

No G-Brave has had more success against the SWB-Yankees than Wes Timmons. The utility infielder and Gwinnett Most Valuable Player batted .417 (5-12) with two runs and two RBI in three games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Chris Burke and Brian Barton have also enjoyed a measure of success against SWB-Yankees. Burke batted .333 (5-15) with four runs, two doubles and three RBI in four games. Barton batted .292 (7-24) with two runs, three doubles and three RBI during seven regular-season games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Alvin Colina batted .278 (5-18) with a run and four RBI in five games with the SWB-Yankees.

Brooks Conrad, J.C. Holt, Reid Gorecki and Kelly Johnson all batted better than .300 and Clint Sammons batted .294 against the SWB-Yankees, but those guys have all since been recalled to Atlanta.

Only one current member of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club, Colin Curtis, batted better than .300 vs. Gwinnett this season. Curtis batted .308 (4-13) with four runs, a homer and an RBI in four games with the G-Braves. But it's the pitching that Gwinnett should be worried about.

Although the G-Braves, led by now major-leaguers Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen and Charlie Morton, led the IL in club ERA for the first half of the season, it's the SWB-Yankees who have filled the role since then. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hurlers have worked to a 3.32 club ERA, 14 points better than the next-best club and 34 points better than the third-best G-Braves.

Postseason play begins Wednesday, with the first pitch at Gwinnett Stadium scheduled for 7 p.m. Gwinnett hosts the SWB-Yankees for Game One of Round One of the Governors' Cup Playoffs. Round One consists of a best-of-five series, split between Gwinnett (Sept. 9-10) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Sept. 11-13). The winner of that series will take on the winner of a series between West Division-champ Louisville (84-58) and South Division-champ Durham (83-61) in the Governors' Cup Championship Round Sept. 15-19.

GOVERNORS' CUP PLAYOFFS - ROUND ONE

Wednesday, Sept. 9 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Gwinnett, 7 p.m. - LHP

John Halama vs. RHP Romulo Sanchez

Thursday, Sept. 10 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Gwinnett, 7 p.m. - LHP

Jo-Jo Reyes vs. RHP Ivan Nova

Friday, Sept. 11 - Gwinnett at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 p.m. - RHP

Bobby Brownlie vs. LHP Kei Igawa

Saturday, Sept. 12 - Gwinnett at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary) - LHP Jonny Venters vs. RHP Zach McAllister

Sunday, Sept. 13 - Gwinnett at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 1:05 p.m. (if necessary) TBD vs. TBD

REGULAR SEASON RESULTS - GWINNETT VS. SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE

June 11 at GWN - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 9, Gwinnett 4

June 12 at GWN - Gwinnett 5, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 4

June 13 at GWN - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 7, Gwinnett 6

June 14 at GWN - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8, Gwinnett 2

July 16 at SWB - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 6, Gwinnett 5

July 17 at SWB - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3, Gwinnett 1

July 18 at SWB - Gwinnett 10, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2

July 19 at SWB - Gwinnett 5, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics



International League Stories from September 8, 2009


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