IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Tides Roll Past Gwinnett, 5-2

August 15, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


NORFOLK, VA. - The Norfolk Tides erupted for five runs in the bottom of the third to defeat the Gwinnett Braves, 5-2, in game two of the four-game series Wednesday night at Harbor Park.

After pitching two scoreless innings, Gwinnett starter Jair Jurrjens got into big trouble quickly in the third. Luis Exposito led off with a walk and moved to third on single to left by Brandon Waring, then Waring moved to second on the throw to the infield by Jose Constanza. Blake Davis singled to right scoring Exposito for a 1-0 Tides lead, but more problems for Jurrjens led him to to leaving the game win an undisclosed injury after the Davis RBI. The G-Braves called Buddy Carlyle from the bullpen, and he allowed a single to Xavier Avery which scored Waring to amplify the Norfolk lead to 2-0. Ryan Adams followed with a three-run homer to left field for a 5-0 Tide lead.

After failing to score in six innings against Norfolk starter Zach Clark, the G-Braves finally got on the board in the top of the seventh against reliever Brian Matusz. Constanza led off the inning with a walk, then with two outs, moved to second on a single by Ernesto Mejia. Terry Tiffee stroked a single to center which scored Constanza from third and cut the Tides' lead to 5-1.

The only other Gwinnett run came off Matusz in the top of the ninth. With two outs and no one on, Mejia singled to center and Tiffee followed with another single to center, putting men at first and second. Josh Kroeger ripped a double to right, scoring Mejia and making it 5-2, but Matusz got Jose Yepez to fly out to left to end the game.

Jurrjens (L, 3-5) was credited with 2.0 innings before the injury, surrendering three earned runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Carlyle worked 3.0 innings with five hits, two earned runs, one walk and one strikeout. Peter Moylan pitched a scoreless sixth with three hits and a strikeout, meanwhile Ryan Buchter worked 2.0 scoreless innings with two walks and one strikeout.

Clark (W, 4-1) went 6.0 scoreless innings for the win, combining for 14 wins between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk this season. He allowed five hits, three walks and struckout five. Matusz (S, 1), in his first relief appearance of the season, worked the 3.0-inning save, allowing five hits, two earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

Mejia paced the G-Braves with a 3-for-5 night, boosting his International League leading tally to 140 on the year. Felix Pie went 2-for-4 and Tiffee was 2-for-5, however Gwinnett left 14 men on base, one below the season high (15) left on base, which was recorded Monday night against Louisville.

L.J. Hoes, Xavier Avery and Blake Davis each had two hits for the Tides, meanwhile Adams three-run homer in the third was his only hit in three at bats.

The Gwinnett Braves (57-69) and Norfolk Tides (63-63) play game three of the four-game series at Harbor Park Thursday afternoon. Left-hander Yohan Flande (6-8, 3.96) will start for the G-Braves against Norfolk left-hander Dana Eveland (4-4, 2.64) with first pitch scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Listen to the broadcast on 1240 ESPN Radio in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.

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 August 15, 2012


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