IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Rochester's Comeback Shocks Gwinnett, 6-5

Published on June 15, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


ROCHESTER, NY -The Rochester Red Wings (33-36) scored five runs off the Gwinnett Braves (28-42) bullpen in the bottom of the ninth inning and roared back for a 6-5 win in game three of the four game series on Saturday night at Frontier Field.

The G-Braves had taken a 5-0 lead to the bottom of the eighth inning, but that is where the bullpen collapse began. Cory Rasmus walked the bases loaded and then walked in a run to make it 5-1. That would be the only run Rasmus would give up a in a four-walk, three-strikeout eighth.

Gwinnett brought in Pat Egan to begin the bottom of the ninth, and he got into immediate trouble. Egan gave up back-to-back singles to James Beresford and pinch hitter Chris Herrmann and then walked Anton Richardson to load the bases with no one out. Egan got Brian Dinkelman to pop out to the mound for the first out, but then gave up a two-run single to Chris Colabello, cutting the lead to 5-3.

Kameron Loe (L, 2-1) came on to replace Egan with one out in the ninth inning. He gave up an RBI single to Jeff Clement that shaved the lead to 5-4. Loe struck out Deibinson Romero for the second out, but a wild pitch would allow the two runners on base to move into scoring position. Dan Rohlfing then delivered the game-winner, a two-run single to left-center for a walk-off win.

The game started off quite well for Gwinnett with strong pitching performances from starter David Hale and reliever Cole McCurry. While the two combined on 7.0 scoreless innings, the offense went to work building a lead.

In the top of the third, Jose Constanza led off with a bunt single off of Rochester starter Kyle Gibson. Constanza stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Red Wings' catcher Drew Butera. Tyler Pastornicky then hit a ground ball to short on a drawn-in infield. Constanza was caught in a run down between third and home, but was able to score when Butera threw the ball away. The miscue gave Gwinnett a 1-0 lead. The lead went to 3-0 as Ernesto Mejia followed with a towering two-run homer to right-center, his 16th of the season.

In the top of the fifth, the G-Braves added a run as Paul Janish led off with a bunt single and moved on to second on a throwing error by Romero fielding the bunt at third. Janish scored on a single to right by Todd Cunningham to raise the lead to 4-0.

In the top of the eighth, Mejia delivered a two-out single to right, moved to second on a walk by Brandon Boggs and scored on single to center by Stefan Gartrell to make it 5-0. The bullpen collapse followed for Gwinnett.

Hale was strong in 4.0 innings of work. He allowed three hits, no runs, three walks and struck out four. McCurry pitched 3.0 perfect three-up-three down innings with three strikeouts. Rasmus worked 1.0 inning with one earned run, four walks and three strikeouts. Egan went a third of an inning with three hits, four earned runs and one walk. Loe picked up the loss in a third of an inning of work with two hits, one earned run and one strikeout.

Gibson worked 6.0 innings in the start for the Red Wings. He allowed six hits and three earned runs, walked one and struck out four. Cody Eppley went 2.0 innings of relief with three hits, one earned run and one walk. Luis Perdomo (W, 3-3) picked up the win in relief with a scoreless top of the ninth.

Offensively for Gwinnett, Cunningham, Mejia and Gartrell were each 2-for-4. The two-run homer by Mejia also accounted for his team-leading 53rd and 54th RBIs of the season.

For the Red Wings, Rohlfing was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI including the game-winning walk-off single.

Gwinnett and Rochester meet in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. Left-hander Sean Gilmartin (3-6, 5.40) will pitch for Gwinnett, while right-hander Cole De Vries (1-2, 10.48) gets the start for Rochester. Tony Schiavone will have the call on WDUN 550 AM/102.9 FM), first pitch is set for 1:05 PM.

The next G-Braves' home game is on Friday, June 21, a 7:05 PM game against the Syracuse Chiefs. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

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International League Stories from June 15, 2013


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