IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

R-Braves Fall Short in Series Opener

June 14, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Pawtucket Red Sox downed the Richmond Braves 4-2 in the series opener on Thursday. The Braves dropped to 37-27 while the Red Sox improved to 29-33 on the season. It was the first of four games at Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium and the first of eight on the road for the Braves.

The Red Sox jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Pawtucket second baseman Bobby Scales led off the frame with a ringing double to left field. Ed Rogers advanced Scales to third with his sacrifice bunt. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury followed the sac bunt with a fielder's choice RBI that scored Scales and gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

Pawtucket added to their lead with three additional runs in the fourth inning. Braves' starter Dan Smith started the inning with two free passes to Kevin Cash and Brandon Moss. Jeff Bailey then loaded the bases for the Red Sox, with his single to left field. Michael Tucker drove home two on a single up the middle, to give Pawtucket a 3-0 lead. Smith recorded two tough outs when he retired Scales and Rogers. But Ellsbury wasn't done when he drilled a two-out, RBI double to left field. It was his second RBI of the contest and the team's fourth and final run.

The Braves never gave in but could only muster two hits and two runs over the final three innings of the game, as their come back effort fell just short. Newly acquired Larry Bigbie recorded his first base hit with the club when hit a ground-rule double that hopped over the right field wall. Martin Prado and Gregor Blanco were the only other Braves to tally a hit in the contest.

Braves' starter Dan Smith allowed four earned runs in five innings of work and dropped his second-straight decision for the triple-A Braves. Smith is now 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA in four starts with Richmond. In his second appearances with Richmond, RHP Brad Nelson scattered three hits in the final three innings of the ballgame. Nelson has yet to allow a run in his five and two-thirds innings with the R-Braves.

The Atlanta Braves' Lance Cormier (1-0, 0.00 ERA in one start with Richmond) will make his second rehab start for the R-Braves in 2007 when he toes the rubber on Friday, against the Paw Sox LHP Jon Lester (1-2, 2.01 ERA), in the second game of the series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Also, there are a limited number of tickets available for the Richmond Braves' July 4th and 5th Fireworks Extravaganza at The Diamond. For more information or to reserve your seat, please call the R-Braves' ticket office at 804-359-4444 or visit the club's website, www.rbraves.com .

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