IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

R-Braves Game Notes

Published on August 23, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Is the third of a four game series. The Bulls have won the first two. The 13th of 16 meetings; the seventh of eight at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Richmond is 6-6 vs. the Bulls, 3-3 at Durham. The Bulls have beaten the Braves four straight times and in six of the last seven meetings. Richmond is 73-85 all-time vs. The Bulls. It is the 37th of 48 games vs. South Division opponents, the 21st of 24 on the road. Richmond is 20-16 vs. the South, 11-9 on the road. It is game three of a four game road trip (Richmond is 0-2). The Braves are in second place in the South, a game and a half back of Durham.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Bulls beat the Braves 8-2 Wednesday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Bulls scored four third inning runs and banged out 13 hits to beat the Braves for the second straight night. The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Wes Timmons scored on a wild pitch. The Bulls answered with an RBI double by Justin Ruggiano, an RBI single by Evan Longoria, a run scoring ground out by Wes Bankston, and an RBI single by Michel Hernandez to lead 4-1 after three. The Braves tallied again in the fourth on a solo home run by Barbaro Canizares. Durham tacked on three more runs in the seventh on another run scoring double by Ruggiano, an RBI single by Longoria, and another RBI single from Hernandez. The Bulls added one more run in the eighth on a home run by Jason Pridie. J.P. Howell tossed eight innings to earn the win. Kevin Barry took the loss. Pridie and Hernandez had three hits each for the Bulls. Durham has 23 hits in the two games of the series. The Braves have committed five errors in two games.

SHUTTING THE DOOR: All four Braves late-inning relief pitchers are pitching extremely well. Zach Schreiber has worked seven consecutive scoreless innings over 10 innings. In that span he has allowed just five hits and has 16 strikeouts. Schreiber has allowed just one run over 21.1 innings in his last 15 appearances (0.42 ERA). Royce Ring has not allowed a run in his last six outings over 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts. Chad Paronto has five straight scoreless appearances over 7.1 innings. Joey Devine has allowed one earned run in his last 6.1 innings.

HOT AUGUST BATS: The Braves are hitting an IL best .297 in August and lead the league in runs per game for August (118 in 21 5.6 per game). Durham is second in August average (.288) and Louisville is second in runs per game for the month (121 in 22 5.5). Five members of the Braves are hitting .300 or better in August: Carlos Mendez (.450 in eight games), Barbaro Canizares (.389 in 19 games), Brandon Jones (.376 in 21 games), Wes Timmons (.346 in 18 games), and Brent Lillibridge (.325 in 21 games). The Braves are 11-10 in August though they have outscored opponents by 24 runs for the month (118-94).

CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A PROGRAM: The Braves added LHP Francisley Bueno from Mississippi. He is slated to start Thursday and will be the 56th player used by Richmond this season, the second most in club history (the Braves used 60 in 2005). The addition of Bueno was the Braves 118th roster move of the season. Richmond has had 14 different players promoted to Atlanta this season. Nine members of the current roster are left from the Opening Day roster of 24. Only two players have been on the eligible roster for every Richmond game this season: RHP Trey Hodges and INF Wes Timmons. INF Martin Prado has been optioned to Richmond and will be added to the active roster upon his arrival.

LEADING THE WAY: The Braves lead the IL in batting average (.271), and fewest home runs allowed (84). They are tied with Durham for the most shutouts (13), They are second in steals (136) and third in ERA (3.66). Richmond is also second in runs per game (4.66) and on-base percentage (.341). Brent Lillibridge is tied for third in steals (27). Gregor Blanco is tied for third in the league in runs scored (72). Martin Prado is tied for second in batting average (.320). The Braves are tied for third in fielding percentage (.981 with Indianapolis). Their 87 errors are second fewest in the IL. Richmond is second in the league in percentage of opponents caught stealing (67-165 .406).

WHAT'S LEFT: 12 games, four vs. Durham. Eight of the final 12 games are at home. All 12 are against Southern Division clubs.

The IL Playoff Chase

SOUTH DIVISION

Record GB

Durham 73-57 --

Richmond 71-58 1.5

WEST DIVISION

Record GB

Toledo 75-55 --

Indianapolis 66-64 9.0

NORTH DIVISION

Record GB

Scranton/WB 75-55 --

Rochester 71-62 5.5

WILD CARD

Record GB

Richmond 71-58 --

Rochester 71-62 2.0

Buffalo 69-61 2.5

Indianapolis 66-64 6.5

2007 R-Braves Vs. Bulls

May

5 ♦ @ RIC W 11-2

6 ♦ @ RIC W 4-0

11 ♦ @ DUR W 3-0

12 ♦ @ DUR W 4-3

13 ♦ @ DUR W 8-1

14 ♦ @ DUR L 3-1

June

22 ♦ @ RIC L1-0

23 ♦ @ RIC W 5-4

24 ♦ @ RIC L 4-1

25 ♦ @ RIC L 8-5

August

21 ♦ @ DUR L 8-5

22 ♦ @ DUR L 8-2

23 ♦ 7:00 PM @ DUR

24 ♦ 7:00 PM @ DUR

29 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC

30 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC

UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES

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

Saturday, August 25 vs. Charlotte 7 PM LHP Dan Smith vs. LHP Heath Phillips

Sunday, August 26 vs. Charlotte 2 PM RHP Trey Hodges vs. RHP Lance Broadway

Monday, August 27 vs. Charlotte 7 PM RHP Kevin Barry vs. LHP Andrew Sisco

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International League Stories from August 23, 2007


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