IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Homers Push G-Braves Past PawSox 3-2

Published on April 21, 2017 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - With a solid all-around pitching performance and a pair of timely home runs, the Gwinnett Braves (10-5) defeated the Pawtucket Red Sox (7-8) 3-2 in the opener of the three-game series in front of 5,058 at Coolray Field on Friday night.

In the third inning, Johan Camargo and Mel Rojas Jr. connected on back-to-back home runs for the G-Braves, and that proved to be enough offense for starter Andrew Albers (W, 1-0) and a pair of relievers.

Making his first home appearance for the G-Braves, Albers got off to a strong start. He struck out two in a scoreless first inning, then struck out the side to work around a pair of base runners in the second.

On the offensive side, Gwinnett couldn't take advantage of early opportunities in the first two innings. Leading off the first, Ozzie Albies reached on an error and stole second for his International League-leading seventh steal of the year, but was erased on a double play. In the second, Matt Tuiasosopo led off with a walk and stole his first base of the year, but again the G-Braves were unable to break the scoreless tie against PawSox starter Kyle Kendrick (L, 0-3).

The G-Braves finally scored in the third. Xavier Avery reached with a one-out double, and two hitters later, Camargo launched a two-run home run 400 feet to center field. His second homer of the season gave Gwinnett a 2-0 lead. On Kendrick's very next pitch, Rojas Jr. hit a home run of his own, also his second of the year, 395 feet to right field to increase the lead to 3-0.

The back-to-back home runs were the first for the G-Braves since June 14, 2016 when Anthony Recker and Reid Brignac accomplished the feat in the sixth inning at Lehigh Valley.

Pawtucket quickly responded in the fourth against Albers as Junior Lake singled and Ryan Court followed with a two-run homer to left to cut the Gwinnett lead to 3-2 after three and a half.

Albers rebounded in the fifth by striking out Lake with the tying run on base to end the frame, and his start. In his second start with Gwinnett, Albers pitched 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out six.

Caleb Dirks entered out of the Gwinnett bullpen in the sixth and walked two of the first three batters he faced to put runners on first and second with one out. Rusney Castillo hit a sinking line drive to right, but Gwinnett right fielder Lane Adams made a diving catch for the out, keeping the tying run on second base as Dirks escaped the jam.

The G-Braves' right-hander returned to the mound in both the seventh and eighth innings, retiring the side in order in both frames to earn his second hold of the season. Dirks retired the final seven batters he faced.

Gwinnett turned to closer David Hernandez (S, 4) in the ninth and he finished off the team's third win in a row and ninth in their last 10 games by retiring the side in order with a ground out and back-to-back strikeouts.

For Pawtucket, Kendrick pitched 7.0 solid innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four. Reliever Kyle Martin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Avery went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored a run for the G-Braves. Tuiasosopo drew a pair of walks to reach 14 on the season, a total that leads the International League. Albies went 0-for-4 to end his IL-best 13-game hitting streak and Adams went 0-for-3 to end his nine-game hitting streak.

The series continues on Saturday night with first pitch at Coolray Field scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Starting pitchers for both clubs have yet to be announced. Dave Lezotte has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 5:35 p.m. For tickets, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.

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International League Stories from April 21, 2017


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