IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

R-Braves Game Notes

August 20, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


Richmond Braves (71-55) vs. Norfolk Tides (61-66)

Game #127, Home Game # 63 ♦ Monday, August 20, 2007 ♦ 7 PM ♦ The Diamond ♦ Richmond, VA

LHP Dan Smith (3-3 5.27) vs. RHP Tim Kester (9-8 5.10)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Is the fourth of a four game home-and-home series and the second of two at The Diamond. The Braves have taken two of three, including the first game in Richmond. The 12th of 16 meetings; the sixth of eight at The Diamond. Richmond is 7-4 vs. the Tides, 3-2 at The Diamond. Richmond is 368-409 all-time vs. Norfolk. It is the 34th of 48 games vs. South Division opponents, the 15th of 24 at home. Richmond is 20-13 vs. the South, 8-6 at home. Tonight is the only home game in a stretch of six out of seven games on the road. The Braves lead the South Division by a game over second-place Durham.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Braves beat the Tides 5-2 Sunday at Harbor Park. The Braves overcame a 2-1 deficit with a four run fifth inning to maintain a one game lead over Durham in the South Division. The Tides took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Sebastien Boucher. The Braves tied the game in the second on an RBI single by Doug Clark. In the fourth the Tides re-gained the lead on a sac fly by Cesar Crespo. Richmond rallied in the fifth to grab the lead. Pete Orr doubled a run home to tie the game. Doug Clark scored on a wild pitch to give Richmond the lead. Brent Lillibridge and Branon Jones produced runs with singles to cap the rally. Blaine Boyer, who allowed one run in five innings of relief, earned the win. Joey Devine notched a save. Craig Anderson took the loss. Clark, Lillibridge, and Carlos Mendez had two hits each for the Braves.

WALK THIS WAY: Braves pitchers issued eight walks last night, one short of the club season high of nine (6/21 @ Syracuse). Tides pitchers did not walk a man last night. The Tides left 12 on base; the Braves just three.

STURTZE STARTS AGAIN: Tanyon Sturtze continued his rehab assignment by making his fourth start in nine days. Due in part to Sturtze rehab, Braves starters have worked just 8.2 innings in the last five games and 21.2 innings over the last eight games. Sturtze has worked one inning in each of his four appearances.

LEADING LIGHTS: The Braves lead the IL in batting average (.272), ERA (3.60), and fewest home runs allowed (79). They are tied with Durham for the most shutouts (13), They are second in steals (131). Richmond also leads in on-base percentage (.343). Gregor Blanco is tied for third in the league in runs scored (70). Martin Prado, now with Atlanta, is third in batting average (.320). The Braves are tied for second in the IL in fielding percentage (.982 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). Their 81 errors are the fewest in the IL. Richmond leads the league in percentage of opponents caught stealing (67-160 .419).

STREAKING: Iker Franco (5-11 .454) has a four game hitting streak. Larry Bigbie (3-7 .429) has hits in three straight games. Carlos Mendez (5-10 .500) has a three game hitting streak. Wes Timmons three game hitting streak ended last night. The Braves have played three straight errorless games.

THE NUMBER CRUNCH: The Braves are now 16 games over .500. Their season high is 17 (reached twice August 9 and 13). The last time the Braves were 18 games over .500 was the end of the 1994 season. The Braves close the season with eight of their last 10 games at home. Braves are first (Barbaro Canizares .472) and third (Brandon Jones .419) in the IL in hitting in August.

ROSTER STABILITY: The Braves have had the same roster available for each game since August 11. Tonight will be the 10th straight game with the same active roster, the longest such streak of the season (the Braves had two six game runs with the same roster earlier this season). Richmond has made 41 roster moves since July 20. The Braves have made a total of 115 roster moves this season and used a total of 55 players.

The IL Playoff Chase

SOUTH DIVISION

Record GB

Richmond 71-55 --

Durham 71-57 1.0

WEST DIVISION

Record GB

Toledo 73-54 --

Indianapolis 65-62 8.0

NORTH DIVISION

Record GB

Scranton/WB 74-54 --

Rochester 70-60 5.0

WILD CARD

Record GB

Durham 71-57 --

Rochester 70-60 2.0

Buffalo 68-59 2.5

Indianapolis 65-62 5.5

2007 R-Braves Vs. Tides

April

26 ♦ 7:15 PM @ NOR W 2-1

27 ♦ 7:30 PM @ NOR W 4-1

28 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC W 6-5

29 ♦ 2:00 PM @ RIC W 11-0

May

24 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC L 7-5

25 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC L 5-2

26 ♦ 7:15 PM @ NOR W 7-4

27 ♦ 1:15 PM @ NOR L 5-3

August

17 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC W 9-5

18 ♦ 7:15 PM @ NOR L 5-3

19 ♦ 6:15 PM @ NOR W 5-2

20 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC

31 ♦ 7:15 PM @ NOR

September

1 ♦ 7:15 PM @ NOR

2 ♦ 2:00 PM @ RIC

3 ♦ 2:00 PM @ RIC

UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES

Tuesday, August 21 @ Durham 7 PM TBA vs. RHP Jeff Niemann

Wednesday, August 22 @ Durham 7 PM RHP Kevin Barry vs. LHP J.P. Howell

Thursday, August 23 @ Durham 7 PM TBA vs. RHP Jae Seo

Friday, August 24 @ Durham 7 PM RHP Blaine Boyer vs. RHP Mitch Talbot

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics



International League Stories from August 20, 2007


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