IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Wilson's Four Hits Lead G-Braves' Victory

Published on July 17, 2012 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Gwinnett shortstop Josh Wilson decided it was time to end his team's four game slide.

Wilson had a 4-for-4 night with four RBIs, leading Gwinnett's 14 hits attack in an 8-5 win over the Indianapolis Indians in game two of the four-game series at Victory Field on Tuesday night.

Wilson, who had earlier scored the tying run in the top of the third, came through for the G-Braves in the top of the fourth with Indy leading 2-1. With Jose Yepez on third and Ruben Gotay, who had doubled, on second, Wilson laced a double to left scoring both to give Gwinnett a 3-2 lead.

Then after the Indians tied the game at 3-3 with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth off of G-Braves' starter Yohan Flande, Wilson paced a big four-run top of the sixth inning.

With lefty Kris Johnson in to pitch replacing starter Jeff Locke, Yepez led off the inning with a double to center. Gotay poked an RBI single to right, scoring Yepez from third to give Gwinnett a 4-3 lead. Wilson (4) then drilled a long two-run homer to left pushing the lead to 6-3. One out later, Stefan Gartrell (13) launched a solo homer to left to increase the Gwinnett lead to 7-3.

In the top of the seventh, Felix Pie (2) joined the homer parade with a solo smash to right off of Johnson to put the G-Braves up 8-3.

The Indians made a run in the bottom of the seventh as Flande walked Brandon Boggs and gave up an RBI triple to Anderson Hernandez to cut the lead to 8-4. Andy Russell replaced Flande on the mound in that inning and gave up a run-scoring groundout to Eric Fryer to make it 8-5. But Russell worked a scoreless eighth and Jaye Chapman (S, 6) pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.

The Indians had taken a 1-0 lead in the first as Chase d'Arnaud tripled with one out to left center and scored on a Flande wild pitch. But in the top of the third, Jose Constanza extended his Gwinnett record hitting streak to 20 games with a single to right scoring Wilson and tying the game at 1-1. Wilson had doubled and stole third earlier in the inning.

Constanza's streak also tied him for the longest streak in the International League this season. He has equaled the run of Toledo's Brad Eldred in mid April, Buffalo's Vinny Rottino in mid May and Norfolk's L.J. Hoes whose 20-game streak game to an end July 12. Constanza was replaced by Gartrell in leftfield in the bottom of the fifth for undisclosed reasons.

The Indians went back on top 2-1 in the bottom of the third as Jose Tabata's long double to center scored Locke, who had walked, from first. That set the stage for the first of Wilson's heroics the very next half inning.

Flande (W, 4-7) went 6.1 innings for his first win since June 11 at Pawtucket. He gave up five hits and four earned runs. Flande walked two and struck out three. Russell worked 1.2 innings giving up one hit and striking out two. Chapman earned the save with one hit, one walk and one strikeout in a scoreless ninth.

Johnson (L, 4-2) picked up the loss in only 1.0 inning of relief, but he allowed five hits, three of which were homers and five earned runs. Johnson struck out one. Locke started the game and lasted 5.0 innings. He allowed five hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out three. Duke Welker worked 2.0 scoreless innings with two hits and three strikeouts. Daniel McCutchen allowed two hits and struck out one in his 1.0 inning of work.

At the plate, aside from the 4-for-4, four RBI night for Wilson, Ernesto Mejia, Pie and Gotay each had two hits for Gwinnett. Constanza, Gartrell, Luis Durango and Yepez each had one hit. D'Arnaud and Jeff Clement each went 2-for-4 for Indianapolis.

The G-Braves' road trip continues Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field in Indianapolis with game three of the four game series against the Indians. Gwinnett has scheduled right-hander Eric Junge (5-8, 4.76) to start. Indianapolis will go with right-hander Daniel Cabrera (4-4, 4.35 to the mound. First pitch set for 1:05 PM. 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 July 17, 2012


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