IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Lehigh Valley Outslugs Gwinnett, 10-9

Published on June 1, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


ALLENTOWN, PA - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (26-29) held off the Gwinnett Braves (24-33) by a 10-9 score on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park in a wild game that featured 19 runs, 27 hits and two costly Gwinnett errors.

The G-Braves had come into the game without scoring a run in 23 consecutive innings, but they quickly put that drought to an end in the top of the first. Tyler Pastornicky drove a two-out single to right and Ernesto Mejia followed with a two-run home run to left. The blast was Mejia's International League leading 15th homer of the season and his third clout during the current road trip.

Gwinnett starter Omar Poveda ran into early problems and failed to hold the 2-0 lead for long. Jermaine Mitchell led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second and scored on a single to left by Cody Asche to cut the G-Braves' lead to 2-1. Then in the bottom of the second, Steve Susdorf led off with a triple to center and scored on a groundout by Darin Ruf, tying the score at 2-2.

The IronPigs took the lead in the bottom of the third as Mitchell led off with a solo homer to right-center off of Poveda. Mitchell's third longball of the year gave Lehigh Valley its first lead at 3-2. Pete Orr followed with a double to right, moved to third on a groundout to the mound by Asche and scored on a groundout to short by Ruf to increase the lead to 4-2.

In the top of the fifth, Gwinnett tied the score at 4-4. Brandon Boggs tripled off of Lehigh Valley reliever Cesar Jimenez and scored as Pastornicky crushed a two run home run to left, his third homer of the year.

With the score still tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Juan Cedeno (L, 0-1) entered the game out of the G-Braves' bullpen and immediately worked into trouble. Cedeno walked Mitchell and gave up a bunt single to Orr. Asche followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Mitchell from second for a 5-4 IronPigs' lead. A walk to Ruf loaded the bases, and an RBI single by Josh Fields pushed the lead to 6-4. Cedeno then walked Susdorf with the bases loaded, scoring Asche to make it 7-4. Kameron Loe came on and ended the Lehigh Valley rally, inducing a double play groundout and striking out one.

Gwinnett made a run in the top of the eighth to pull within one at 7-6. Mejia led off with a double and took third on a single by Leonard. Both baserunners scored as Matt Pagnozzi connected on a towering drive that hit the top of the wall in left and went for a double.

The IronPigs, however, would take advantage of two Gwinnett errors in the bottom of the eighth to build a 10-6 lead. With Pat Egan now on the mound for the G-Braves, pinch-hitter Miguel Abreu stroked a single to left and Mitchell reached on a bunt single. Orr laid down a bunt toward third that Egan fielded, but his throw to first went wide of Mejia for an error. Abreu scored on the miscue, making it 8-6. Egan walked Asche intentionally to load the bases and struck out the next two batters, but another error tacked on two more runs. Pastornicky dropped a grounder off the bat of Susdorf, then attempted to recover and throw to first. His throw was offline, allowing both Mitchell and Orr to score.

The G-Braves put together one last rally in the ninth inning. With Jake Diekman on for Lehigh Valley, Pastornicky reached on a two-out single and scored from first on a double to left-center by Mejia. Joey Terdoslavich plated Mejia with a single to right to make it 10-8. Leonard tripled for the second time in the game, scoring Terdoslavich from first to cut the deficit to 10-9. The comeback ended there, however, as Diekman induced Pagnozzi into a game-ending groundout to short.

Poveda went 5.0 innings with four earned runs allowed on six hits for the G-Braves. Wirfin Obispo pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Cedeno (L, 0-1) yielded three runs on three hits over 0.2 innings. Loe added a scoreless third of an inning, and Egan gave up two runs on four hits over 1.0 inning of work.

Toccoa, GA native Ethan Martin started the game for Lehigh Valley. He went 5.0 innings, gave up seven hits and four earned runs while walking three and striking out five. Jimenez (W, 2-1) worked 3.0 innings with three hits, two earned runs and six strikeouts. Diekman pitched the ninth, gave up four hits and three earned runs while striking out two.

Despite striking out 13 times, the G-Braves had a good night at the plate with 14 hits. Mejia went 4-for-5 with three doubles, a home run and three RBI. Pastornicky was 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI. Leonard extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 3-for-5 effort that included two triples and an RBI. Pagnozzi was 2-for-5 with two RBI.

For Lehigh Valley, Mitchell was 3-for-3 with a homer and four runs scored. Orr went 3-for-5 and scored three times. Asche was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Susdorf was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.

Gwinnett and Lehigh Valley will square off Sunday afternoon in game three of the four game series in Allentown, PA. Left-hander Daniel Rodriguez (3-3, 5.76) will start for Gwinnett, while right-hander B. J. Rosenberg (1-4 4.10) gets the start for Lehigh Valley. Tony Schiavone will have the call on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM. First pitch is set for 1:35 PM.

The G-Braves' next home game is Tuesday, June 4, 6:05 PM against the Rochester Red Wings. 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.

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International League Stories from June 1, 2013


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