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IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Lehigh Valley Holds off Gwinnett, 6-5

June 8, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


ALLENTOWN, PA - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh and held off a Gwinnett ninth inning rally to beat the G-Braves 6-5 on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. The loss, Gwinnett's fifth-straight, ensured a sweep and a 6-2 season series victory for the IronPigs.

The G-Braves now drop 3.5 games behind the Charlotte Knights in the International League South, as Charlotte edged Toledo 3-2 to sweep the four game series from the Mud Hens in Toledo, Ohio.

Gwinnett took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Stefan Gartrell led off the inning with a double to right-center and scored on a one-out single to left by Josh Wilson.

The IronPigs picked up two in the bottom of the third off of G-Braves starter Jair Jurrjens. Steve Susdorf led off with a single to right and stole second base. A ground out to second by Tug Hulett moved Susdorf to third and he would score the tying run on a sacrifice fly to center by Lehigh Valley starting pitcher Pat Misch. Kyle Hudson then singled to center, stole second and scored on a single to right by Kevin Frandsen to make it 2-1 'Pigs.

It stayed that way until the top of the seventh, when Wilson led off with a solo homer (2) to left to tie the game at 2-2. Shawn McGill followed with an infield single. A bunt by Jurrjens moved McGill to second and Tyler Pastornicky plated McGill with a double to deep right, giving the G-Braves a 3-2 lead.

The lead was brief. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Adam Russell came in to relieve Jurrjens and surrendered a game-tying two-out RBI single to Frandsen scoring Hulett. Two batters later, Erik Kratz delivered the game-winning hit with a three-run single to right.

Gwinnett made a final run in the top of the ninth. With reliever Phillippe Aumont on the mound, McGill walked, and with one out, Luis Durango singled to left putting runners on second and third. Felix Pie then delivered a clutch two-out double to center that scored both McGill and Durango, cutting the IronPigs lead to 6-5. Ernesto Mejia stepped to the plate with Pie at second as the tying run, but struck out against Aumont to end the game.

Jurrjens had a quality start in a no-decision. He worked six innings, giving up six singles and two earned runs. He walked no one and struck out four. Russell (L, 3-3) was tagged for four earned runs in 0.2 innings of work with two walks and no strikeouts. Jaye Chapman pitched the final 1.1 innings giving up one hit while striking out two.

Misch worked 6.2 innings for Lehigh Valley, surrendering three earned runs on nine hits while striking out eight. Brian Sanches (W, 3-1) got the win working 1.1 innings of relief with one walk and two strikeouts. Aumont (S, 6) gave up two earned runs in the ninth, but also struck out two to earn the save.

At the plate, Gartrell was 3-for-4. Wilson went 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBIs, while Mejia finished 2-for-5. Pie drove in two runs as well on 1-for-5 hitting.

Lehigh Valley (35-26) was paced by Kratz, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Frandsen had a 3-for-4 night, and Hudson added a 2-for-4 performance.

The Gwinnett Braves (33-29) now head to Pawtucket, Rhode Island to begin a four-game series against the Pawtucket Red Sox (39-22) on Saturday night. Right-hander Julio Teheran (5-2, 3.15 ERA) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves, while the Sox are scheduled to pitch former Atlanta infielder, right-hander Tony Pena, Jr. (0-3, 6.91 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 PM. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN AM 550 in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics

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International League Stories from June 8, 2012


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