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IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Pascucci Powers Buffalo Past G-Braves

May 18, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


BUFFALO, NY - Buffalo first baseman Valentino Pascucci drilled a pair of two-run homers off of Gwinnett starting pitcher Yohan Flande leading the Bisons (25-17) to a 5-3 win over the Gwinnett Braves (25-17) in final game of the four game series Friday night at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, New York. With the win, the Bisons take the season series over the Braves, 6-2.

Just as they did the night before, the G-Braves rolled out to an early lead. Back-to-back solo homers by Stefan Gartrell (9) and Ernesto Mejia (6) with two outs in the first gave Gwinnett a quick 2-0 lead over the Bisons and starting pitcher Matt Harvey.

Down 2-0 in the bottom of the third, the Bisons come alive. They loaded the bases with no one out against Flande and scored their first run on a 6-4-3 double play ball off the bat of Vinny Rottino. With one on and two outs, Pascucci came to the plate and belted a long two-run shot to center giving Buffalo a 3-2 lead.

The G-Braves tied the game at three in the top of the fifth, as Drew Sutton walked with two outs and scored from first on a double to right by Gartrell.

But in the bottom of the fifth, Pascucci delivered the eventual game winning runs. He ripped a towering two-run homer to left off of Flande with one out, giving the Bisons a 5-3 advantage.

Flande (L, 1-3) pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 10 hits and five earned runs. He walked two and struck out one. Jason Rice replaced Flande in the fifth and worked 1.1 scoreless innings with one walk and one strikeout. Anthony Varvaro pitched the final two innings for Gwinnett giving up three hits and striking out five.

Harvey (W, 4-1) went six innings for the win. He gave up four hits and three earned runs while walking three and striking out a season-high 11. Dylan Owen (S, 1) went the final 3.0 innings, allowing three hits while striking out two.

Both Gartrell and Mejia went 2-for-4 with home runs for Gwinnett. Sutton, J.C. Boscan and Luis Durango each had a hit.

Pascucci was 2-for-4 for Buffalo with the two homers and four RBI. Corey Wimberly, Matt Tuiasosopo and Josh Satin each had two hits. Fred Lewis paced the Buffalo attack with a 3-for-4 night. Rottino was 0-for-5, ending his hitting streak at 20 games.

The Gwinnett Braves move to Rochester for a four game series against the Red Wings, the Triple-A club of the Minnesota Twins. Game one Saturday night is set for a 7:05 first pitch. Right-hander Eric Junge (3-3, 3.07 ERA) will pitch for the G-Braves. The Red Wings are scheduled to pitch right-hander Cole DeVries (0-4, 4.18 ERA). 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.

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