IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Yankees Finish Sweep of Gwinnett, 11-4 14 losses in a row for the G-Braves extends franchise mark

June 29, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


Rochester, NY. - For the second night in a row, Gwinnett Braves' starting pitching gave up nine runs and, as a result, the G-Braves suffered their 14th loss in a row with an 11-4 drubbing at the hands of the Empire State Yankees Friday night at Frontier Field. Gwinnett's 14th-straight defeat extends the franchise record for most consecutive losses, which was originally set by the 2006 Richmond Braves with their 12-game skid.

This year's G-Braves have lost 26 of their last 31 games dating back to May 30, including 24 of 29 contests this month. It was the final game of a 0-8 road trip to upstate New York for Gwinnett, moving them to a season-high 10 games in back of Charlotte for first place in the International League South standings.

Just as the night prior, the Yankees got on the board in the very first inning. A Chris Dickerson hit and an error by G-Braves' centerfield Luis Durango put Dickerson on second on the first pitch of the night delivered by starter Jose Lugo. The second pitch from Lugo was lined into rightfield by Corban Joseph scoring Dickerson for a 1-0 Yankees lead. With two outs, Russell Branyan (9) hit a two-run home run to left center to put the Yankees up 3-0. Lugo (L, 1-4) worked 3.1 innings, giving up six hits and nine earned runs, while he walked five and struck out four.

Gwinnett clawed back in the top of the second, as Yankees' starter Nelson Figueroa walked Ernesto Mejia to begin the inning. Felix Pie struck a double down the rightfield line moving Mejia to third and upping his hit-streak to 12 games. Ruben Gotay walked and Christian Marrero followed with an RBI single to right scoring Mejia to make it 3-1. Josh Wilson then hit into a 6-4-3 double play forcing across Pie to cut the Yankees lead, 3-2.

In the bottom of the third, Lugo walked Dickerson to lead-off the inning and with two outs walked Jack Cust. Branyan singled to left scoring Dickerson amping the Yankees lead to 4-2. Brandon Laird then pounded a double off the wall in right which scored Cust to make it 5-2. Gustavo Molina followed with a single that scored Branyan and Laird to push the lead to 7-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, Lugo walked Dickerson and Ronnier Mustelier to put two men on with one out. The G-Braves brought in Billy Bullock from the bullpen and he proceeded to give up a three-run homer to Jack Cust (17), boosting the Yankees lead to 10-2. Bullock went 2.2 innings with one hit, one earned run, three walks and five strikeouts. Cory Gearrin pitched a scoreless seventh with one hit and one walk.

The G-Braves got back on the board in the top of the seventh as Jose Yepez doubled to left, moved to third on a single by Jose Constanza and scored when Durango hit into a double play. The hit by Constanza increased his hitting streak to seven games.

In the top of the eighth, with Juan Cedeno in for the Yankees, Mejia drew a lead-off walk and Marrero dropped a two out double into left putting runners at second and third. Wilson singled to left scoring Mejia to make it 11-3, but Marrero was thrown out at the plate by leftfielder Mustelier to deny the Braves of any more runs.

The Yankees put the final touches on the win in the bottom of the eighth off Gwinnett reliever Dusty Hughes as Mustelier tripled to left center and scored on a single to left by Doug Bernier for the final tally of 11-4. Hughes worked the eighth with two hits, one earned run and one strikeout.

Figueroa (W, 5-2) went five innings with three hits and two earned runs, while he walked three and struck out four. Justin Thomas worked 0.2 of an inning and gave up one hit and one walk. Juan Cedeno went 2.1 innings allowing four hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out one. Lawrenceville, Georgia, native Jason Bulger pitched a scoreless ninth surrendering one hit.

Offensively for the G-Braves, Constanza was 3-for-5 and Marrero was 3-for-4.

Branyan had a 2-for-3 night for the Yankees with a homer and three RBIs. Cust drove in three runs on his fourth-inning homer and Dickerson scored three times.

The Gwinnett Braves (37-46) return home Saturday night in game one of a four-game series against the Charlotte Knights. The G-Braves will have right-hander Eric Junge (1-3, 4.24) on the mound against the Knights right-hander Charlie Shirek (7-4, 3.71) in a 7:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch at Coolray Field. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN AM 550 in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.

The homestand begins with "Braves All-Star Weekend" presented by Springer Mountain Farms, featuring appearances by former Braves Dave Justice and Javy Lopez on Saturday, June 30 alongside Dale Murphy and Ryan Klesko on Sunday, July 1. Join us Friday night for Braves All-Star Weekend, with former Braves David Justice and Javy Lopez at the ballpark for a meet-and-greet, plus a 90-minute autograph session after the start of the game. Limit 1 item per person, first come first serve basis. Also, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a pennant flag courtesy of Springer Mountain Farms.

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 29, 2012


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