IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Six-run Ninth Propels G-Braves Past Charlotte, 7-4

Published on July 2, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - Trailing by a 4-1 score with one out in the top of the ninth, the Gwinnett Braves (41-38) exploded for six runs in a gritty 7-4 comeback win Thursday night over the Charlotte Knights (44-36) in game one of the three-game series at BB&T Ballpark.

Gwinnett headed to that top of the ninth with only three hits in the game off of Charlotte pitching, but with one out Jose Peraza started the rally with a single to right field off of Charlotte right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom.

Eric Young, Jr followed with a single to left to put two on. Cedric Hunter, who on Tuesday hit a ninth-inning solo home run at Buffalo to force extra innings, hit a deep drive to right-center. The ball bounced off the top of the wall for a triple that scored both Peraza and Young to cut the Charlotte lead to one at 4-3.

The next batter, Sean Kazmar, lined a triple to right-center, scoring Hunter to tie the game at 4-4. With Todd Cunningham batting, a wild pitch by Lindstrom enabled Kazmar to score from third for a 5-4 lead. With two out, Daniel Castro singled, stole second and moved to third when Barrett Kleinknecht reached on an error by Charlotte shortstop Tyler Saladino. The Knights called for right-handed reliever Blake Smith from the bullpen. He walked Jose Yepez to load the bases and then gave up a single to center to Mallex Smith, which plated both Castro and Kleinknecht for a 7-4 lead that was the eventual final score.

The Knights had taken the early led in the game off of Gwinnett right-handed starter Kanekoa Texeira. In the bottom of the second, Matt Davidson walked, took second on a single to right by Tyler Colvin and then moved to third as the ball was misplayed in right by Cunningham. Trayce Thompson then hit into a 6-4-3 double play, scoring Davidson from third for a 1-0 lead.

Gwinnett tied the game 1-1 off of Charlotte right-handed starter Junior Guerra, as Smith led off the top of the fourth with a double to right. He scored on a triple to right by Young.

But in the bottom of the fifth, the Knights put two on the board against Texeira, as Kevan Smith doubled and scored on a triple by Micah Johnson. Johnson would then score from third on a groundout by Saladino for a 3-1 lead.

Charlotte added a run in the bottom of the seventh off of G-Braves' lefty reliever Matt Marksberry. Drew Garcia led off with a walk, moved to second on a bunt by Johnson and scored on a single to right by Saladino to increase the Knights' lead to 4-1.

Charlotte maintained the three run lead until the big top of the ninth.

The win by G-Braves put them on a four-game winning streak for the third time this season. It was also their fifth win in seven contests on the current nine-game road trip.

Texeira pitched 5.0 innings with seven hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and four strikeouts. Marksberry worked 2.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, one walk and three strikeouts. Right-hander Ryan Kelly (W, 2-1), who was just opinioned back from the Atlanta Braves earlier in the day, picked up the win with 2.0 hitless innings with three strikeouts.

Guerra gave the Knights 4.0 innings with two hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts. Chicago White Sox' right-handed reliever Matt Albers, pitching on a rehab assignment, worked 1.0 inning with one strikeout. Righty Maikel Cleto (H, 5) went 2.0 innings with one hit and two strikeouts. Lindstrom (BS, 2; L, 2-1) pitched 1.2 innings with five hits, six runs (four earned) and two strikeouts. Smith finished the game for Charlotte with 0.1 of an inning with one hit and one walk.

For Gwinnett, Smith was 3-for-5 with a run, a double and two RBIs. Young went 2-for-4 with a run, a triple and an RBI. Hunter was 1-for-4 with a run, a triple and two RBIs. Kazmar was 1-for-4 with a run, a triple and an RBI.

Johnson and Saladino each went 2-for-4 for Charlotte.

The G-Braves and Knights square off in a day-night doubleheader on Friday at BB&T Ballpark. The first game set to start at 12:05 p.m., and the second game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Gwinnett with pitch left-hander Greg Smith (2-3, 2.26 ERA) in game one and righty Jorge Reyes (4-2, 2.38 ERA in Double-A Mississippi) in game two. Charlotte will go with righty Miguel Chalas (0-3, 4.58 ERA) in the opener and fellow right-hander Brad Penny (3-3, 4.31 ERA) in the nightcap. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 11:30 a.m. for game one and 6:30 p.m. for game two.

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from July 2, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central