IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

R-Braves Game Notes

June 8, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


Richmond Braves (33-23) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (25-32)

Game # 57, Home Game # 28 ♦ June 8, 2007 ♦ 7 PM ♦ The Diamond ♦ Richmond, VA

LHP Dan Smith (2-0 2.92) vs. RHP David Pauley (2-1 3.19)

TONIGHT'S GAME: The fourth of a four game series and the fourth of eight meetings vs. Pawtucket, the fourth of four at The Diamond. Richmond is 1-2 vs. the Red Sox. The Braves snapped an 11 game losing streak and a six game home losing streak vs. the Red Sox last night. The Braves are 259-251 all-time vs. Pawtucket. The 23rd of 46 meetings vs. North Division clubs, the 12th of 27 at home. Richmond is 11-11 vs. the North, 4-7 at home. Game four of a 10 game, eight day homestand. Richmond is in first place in the South by four and a half games over Durham.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Braves edged the Red Sox 2-1 at The Diamond Thursday. Three Braves pitchers held the Sox to three hits as the Braves snapped an eight game home losing streak. The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the fourth without a hit. Jacoby Ellsbury walked, stole second, and came around on a pair of ground outs. That lead held until the seventh. Bill McCarthy led off the seventh with a double. Iker Franco drove him home with a single to tie the game. Gregor Blanco chased pinch runner Martin Prado home with a double to give the Braves the lead. Will Startup picked up the win in relief. Manny Acosta notched a save. Devern Hansack took the loss. Brayan Pena had three hits for the Braves. George Kottaras had two hits for the Sox.

ONE RUN FUN: The Braves are now 11-6 in games decided by one run. Richmond dropped four straight one run decisions prior to last night after winning 10 of their first 12. Richmond's .647 winning percentage in one-run games is the second best in the league (Toledo is 13-7 .650). Only Toledo and Ottawa (12) have more one-run wins than Richmond.

ON A ROLL: Brayan Pena has a five game hitting streak (10-23 .435). Carlos Mendez has a four game hitting streak (7-16 .438). T.J. Bohn (3-9 .333) has hits in three straight games. Doug Clark's six game hitting streak and Brent Lillibridge's three game hitting streak ended last night. Jeff Bennett has tossed 14.1 straight scoreless innings over seven appearances. That is the longest scoreless stretch by a Braves reliever this season.

IKER TO WIN: The Braves are 15-2 in games when Iker Franco starts at catcher. Braves pitchers have an ERA of 1.74 when pitching to Franco. He does not have enough games played to qualify for the league leaders in percentage of opponents caught stealing but is one of only three catchers to play in the IL this season to throw out more than 50% of runners trying to steal (13-25 .520).

TOP OF THE HEAP: The Braves lead the International League in pitching with a team ERA of 3.20. The Braves also lead in shutouts (eight) and fewest home runs allowed (31). Richmond is tied for third in stolen bases (59). Gregor Blanco is fifth in the league in runs scored (37). The Braves are third in percentage of opponents caught stealing (.446) and Corky Miller is second best among IL catchers in caught stealing percentage (.458). T.J. Bohn is third in outfield assists (6).

THIS AND THAT: Braves pitchers have held opponents under two runs 19 times this season. The Braves have lost only one home series this season (to Scranton/Wilkes- Barre). Richmond is 27-0 when leading after seven innings. The Braves are one of only two clubs in the IL who are undefeated when leading after seven innings (Buffalo is 26-0). All four blown save opportunities charged to the Braves bullpen have come in the sixth inning. The Braves have a better winning percentage in games in which they do not hit home runs (19-13 .594) than in games in which they do homer (14-10 .583). With rainouts and doubleheaders the Braves are in a stretch of 56 out of 59 games against American League affiliates. Braves DH's are hitting .303 this season. The Braves have scored the first run of the game 34 times this season. Only one club in the IL has done that more often (Toledo, 36). The Braves are in a stretch of 25 straight games vs. North Division clubs. Richmond is 18-18 since opening the season with a 15-5 record in April. Martin Prado has not committed an error in 155 chances at second base this season.

UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES

Saturday, June 9 vs. Buffalo (DH) 6 PM RHP Trey Hodges/TBA vs. LHP Jason Stanford/RHP Jake Dittler

Sunday, June 10 vs. Buffalo (DH) 2 PM RHP Kevin Barry/TBA vs. RHP Jeff Harris/TBA

Monday, June 11 vs. Buffalo 7 PM RHP TBA vs. RHP Sean Smith

Tuesday, June 12 vs. Buffalo 7 PM RHP Ryan Baerlocher vs. LHP Aaron Laffey

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