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IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

R-Braves Game Notes

August 24, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


Richmond Braves (72-58) @ Durham Bulls (73-58)

Game #131, Road Game # 68 ♦ Friday, August 24, 2007 ♦ 7 PM ♦ Bulls Athletic Park ♦ Durham, NC

RHP Blaine Boyer (3-2 4.67) vs. RHP Mitch Talbot (11-8 4.77)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Is the fourth of a four game series. The Bulls have won two of three. The 14th of 16 meetings; the eighth of eight at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Richmond is 7-6 vs. the Bulls, 4-3 at Durham. Richmond is 74-85 all-time vs. The Bulls. It is the 38th of 48 games vs. South Division opponents, the 22nd of 24 on the road. Richmond is 21-16 vs. the South, 12-9 on the road. It is game four of a four game road trip (Richmond is 1-2). The Braves are in second place in the South, a half game back of Durham.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Braves beat the Bulls 9-8 Thursday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Richmond scored three runs in the ninth to snap a three game losing streak overall and a four game losing skid vs. Durham. The Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Jason Pridie. Durham made it 2-0 in the second on a Jorge Velandia home run. The Braves tied the game in the third. Wes Timmons bashed a home run and Brandon Jones smacked a run-scoring double. The Braves moved in front with a four run fourth. Gregor Blanco knocked in a run with a single. Brent Lillibridge doubled two home. Brayan Pena capped the rally with an RBI single as Richmond opened up a 6-2 lead. The Bulls pulled to within 6-5 with a three run sixth. Evan Longoria drilled a homer and Elliot Johnson cracked a two-run blast. Justin Ruggiano chased a run home with a single in the seventh to tie the game. Durham moved back in front in the eighth on an RBI double by Velandia and a Jeremy Owens sac fly to lead 8-6. In the Braves ninth Lillibridge homered and Doug Clark smashed a two-run homer to put the Braves in front. Joey Devine struck out the side in the home half to close the game. Zach Schreiber picked up the win. Devine earned the save. Chad Orvella took the loss. Jones and Blanco had three hits each for the Braves. Te two clubs combined for 27 hits and five errors.

IT'S ALL BUENO: Francisley Bueno struck out eight in 5.1 innings in his Triple-A debut. It was the longest outing by a Braves starter since Kevin Barry went five innings August 12 (a span of nine games, skewed in part by three rehab starts by Tanyon Sturtze). The last time a Braves starter went longer than 5.1 innings was August 11 (seven innings by Jo-Jo Reyes). Bueno was the 20th starting pitcher used by Richmond this season. He is the fourth Cuban defector to see action with Richmond this season.

NINE TO WIN: The Braves scored nine or more runs in a game for the seventh time in the month of August. The Braves scored nine or more in a game nine times from April through July. The Braves are 5-10 in August when scoring less than nine runs in a game. They have scored five or more runs in 15 of 22 August games. The Braves lead the IL in August batting average (.303) and runs per game (5.7).

THE PLAYOFF CHASE: The Braves lead the Wild Card chase by three games over Rochester and Buffalo. Those two clubs close the season in a head-to-head four game series at Rochester.

LEADING THE WAY: The Braves lead the IL in batting average (.272), and fewest home runs allowed (87). They are tied with Durham and Columbus for the most shutouts (13), They are second in steals (136) and have slipped from first to fifth in ERA (3.69). Richmond is also second in runs per game (4.69) and on-base percentage (.342). Brent Lillibridge is tied for fourth in steals (27). Gregor Blanco is third in the league in runs scored (74). The Braves are tied for third in fielding percentage (.981 with Indianapolis). Their 89 errors are second fewest in the IL. Richmond leads the league in percentage of opponents caught stealing (67-165 .406).

STREAKING: Carlos Mendez has a six game hitting streak (9-22 .409). Brayan Pena (7-22.318) and Pete Orr (6-20 .300) have five game hitting streaks. Wes Timmons has hits in three straight games (4-10 .400).

CHECK THAT: INF Martin Prado was optioned to Richmond Wednesday but never reported. Atlanta SS Edgar Renteria re-injured his ankle and went right back on the Disabled List. Prado was re-called yesterday (due to the injury situation the normal 10-day rule to be re-called does not apply). Prado is currently third in the IL in hitting (.320). The Braves have now made 120 roster moves this season.

The IL Playoff Chase

SOUTH DIVISION

Record GB

Durham 73-58 --

Richmond 72-58 0.5

WEST DIVISION

Record GB

Toledo 76-55 --

Indianapolis 66-65 10.0

NORTH DIVISION

Record GB

Scranton/WB 76-55 --

Rochester 71-63 6.5

WILD CARD

Record GB

Richmond 72-58 --

Rochester 71-63 3.0

Buffalo 69-61 3.0

Indianapolis 66-65 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 ♦ @ DUR W 9-8

24 ♦ 7:00 PM @ DUR

29 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC

30 ♦ 7:00 PM @ RIC

UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES

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

Tuesday, August 28 vs. Charlotte 7 PM LHP Francisley Bueno vs. RHP Nick Masset

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