IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

R-Braves Game Notes

Published on August 9, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


Richmond Braves (66-50) at Charlotte Knights (53-65)

Game #116, Road Game #61 ♦ Thursday, August 9, 2007 ♦ 7:15 p.m. ♦ Knights Stadium ♦ Fort Mill, SC

LHP Dan Smith (3-3 4.84) vs. LHP Heath Phillips (10-7 4.53)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Is the third of a four-game series (Richmond has won the first two), the 11th of 16 meetings and the seventh of eight at Knights Stadium. Richmond is 6-4 vs. the Knights, 3-3 at Knights Stadium. The Braves are 131-126 all-time against Charlotte. The 29th of 48 games vs. South Division clubs; the 15th of 24 on the road. Richmond is 17-11 vs. the South, 9-5 on the road. It is the third of a four game road trip (the Braves are 2-0). The Braves lead the South Division by three and a half games over second-place Durham.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Braves beat the Knights 7-2 Wednesday at Knights Stadium. The Braves banged out 15 hits and carried a shutout into the ninth to earn their fifth straight win. Richmond took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Schuerholz. The Braves stretched that advantage to 3-0 in the seventh on a two run double by Brent Lillibridge. The Braves blew the game open with four runs in the ninth. Schuerholz chased one home with a single. Brandon Jones knocked in a run with a double. Barbaro Canizares produced two more runs with a single. The Knights avoided a shutout with a two run single by Adam Ricks in the ninth. Jo-Jo Reyes worked six scoreless innings with six strikeouts to earn the win. Joey Devine tossed two scoreless innings. Charlie Haeger took the loss. Gregor Blanco had four of the Braves 15 hits. Richmond committed a season-high four errors.

BRAVES ON A ROLL: Richmond has won five straight games. That streak is the Braves third longest of the season. Richmond won six straight games from July 23-27 and won a season high eight straight from April 25-May 3. The Braves have equaled a season high at 16 games over .500 (they were also 16 games over .500 on May 18 and July 27). The last time the Braves were 17 games over .500 was the last day of the 2004 season when they finished at 79-62. The Braves are hitting .353 in their last five games and have scored 39 runs over that span. The Braves have 65 hits in their last five games.

CANIZARES CRUSHING BASEBALLS: Cuban defector Barbaro Canizares was hitting .304 on May 4 when his season was interrupted due to a work visa problem. He missed nearly three months and did not return to the Braves until August 1. Since his return Canizares is 16-27 (.593) with six RBI in seven games. He has raised his season average to .398.

JONATHAN SCHUERHOLZ WEEK: For the second straight year Jonathan Schuerholz has started August sizzling at the plate. In seven games from July 30 to August 8 Schuerholz is 6-17 (.353) with his first two home runs of the season and five RBI. He has hits in all five games he has started in that stretch. Last year in seven games from July 31-August 6 he was 12-27 (.444) with his first two home runs of the season and 10 RBI.

ROSTER RUMBLINGS: RHP Joey Devine re-joined Richmond from Atlanta yesterday. He pitched one scoreless inning in his fourth stint with Atlanta this season. OF T.J. Bohn has been activated from the Disabled List and assigned to Double-A Mississippi. The Braves roster stands at 24 (12 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, four outfielders) with two players on the DL. The Braves have made 109 roster moves this season. 13 different Braves have earned call-ups to Atlanta. Seven current Atlanta Braves were promoted from Richmond this season (RHP Buddy Carlyle, RHP Lance Cormier, RHP Peter Moylan, OF Willie Harris, INF Martin Prado, INF Yunel Escobar, and C Corky Miller).

TOP OF THE HEAP: The Braves lead the IL in batting average (.271), ERA (3.59), most shutouts (13), and fewest home runs allowed (75). They are second in steals (120). The Braves are tied for the league lead in fielding percentage (.983) and have the fewest errors (72). Richmond leads the IL in percentage of opponents caught stealing (64-149 .430). Gregor Blanco is tied for third in the league in runs scored (65).

KEEPING UP WITH JONES: Brandon Jones has hits in nine straight games (17-32 .459). He is eight for his last nine and has five straight multiple- hit games. He has raised his batting average during the streak from .186 to .316.

Upcoming Milestones

PLAYER MILESTONE NEEDS FOR

Larry Bigbie Career hits 17 500

Career RBI 1 200

Gregor Blanco Career runs 13 500

Career steals 4 200

Kevin Barry Career K's 21 500

T.J. Bohn Career RBI 22 300

Doug Clark Career HR's 9 100

Career SB's 21 200

Iker Franco Career hits 39 500

Jonathan Johnson Career K's 39 700

Brent Lillibridge Career steals 1 100

Brayan Pena Career hits 7 200

2007 Richmond Vs. Charlotte

_____________________________________________________________________

6-4 vs. the Knights

May

1 ♦ @ RIC W 4-0

2 ♦ @ RIC W 4-0

3 ♦ @ RIC W 5-4

4 ♦ @ RIC L 3-6

7 ♦ @ CHR L 3-4

8 ♦ @ CHR W 4-3

9 ♦ @ CHR L 5-9

10 ♦ @ CHR L 1-12

August

7 ♦ @ CHR W 9-4 (10)

8 ♦ @ CHR W 7-2

9 ♦ @ CHR 7:15 p.m.

10 ♦ @ CHR 7:15 p.m.

25 ♦ @ RIC 7:00 p.m.

26 ♦ @ RIC 2:00 p.m.

27 ♦ @ RIC 7:00 p.m.

28 ♦ @ RIC 7:00 p.m.

UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, August 10 @ Charlotte 7:15 p.m. RHP Manny Acosta vs. RHP Lance Broadway

Saturday, August 11 vs. Columbus 7 PM RHP Blaine Boyer vs. RHP Colin Balester

Sunday, August 12 vs. Columbus 2 PM RHP Kevin Barry vs. RHP Josh Hall

Monday, August 13 vs. Columbus 7 PM LHP Jo-Jo Reyes vs. RHP Emiliano Fruto

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