Results tagged ‘ Jose Constanza ’
Family Sunday as G-Braves Host Yankees
Photo courtesy of Daniel Hamby
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees scored eight runs in the first inning and never trailed, defeating the Gwinnett Braves, 13-8 on Saturday night at Coolray Field. Cole Garner crushed a grand slam as part of the big first frame and Brandon Laird added a homer and four RBIs of his own as the Yankees pounded out 15 total hits. With the loss, the G-Braves are a season-high 10 games under the .500 mark.
The Yankees jumped out to an early lead for the second straight night, plating eight runs before Gwinnett hitters grabbed their bats. Starter Brent Leach (L, 0-1) failed to get out of the first inning in his G-Braves debut, allowing seven runs on three hits and four walks in just a third of an inning. The left-hander yielded a leadoff walk to Chris Dickerson, single to Kevin Russo and RBI double to Corban Joseph as Scranton jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Following a walk to Jack Cust to load the bases, Leach allowed back-to-back bases loaded walks to Laird and Francisco Cervelli for a 3-0 Yankees advantage. Garner followed with the grand slam to left, opening up a 7-0 lead and chasing Leach from the game.
Buddy Carlyle relieved Leach and served up back-to-back triples to Dickerson and Russo as the Yankees took an 8-0 lead. Carlyle settled down to work 3.2 stellar innings, surrendering just one run on three hits while striking out four.
The G-Braves were held scoreless by Scranton right-hander Ramon Ortiz over the first four innings, but finally solved the veteran in the fifth with a six-run frame. Ruben Gotayled off the inning with a double, and Lance Zawadzki reached on an infield pop-up that was dropped by the third baseman Russo for an error. Following a groundout, Luis Durango singled home the first run of the game for Gwinnett. Felix Pie added a sacrifice fly scoring Zawadzki, and Ernesto Mejia tallied his International League leading 67th RBI with a single. The inning was broken open when Stefan Gartrell blasted a three-run home run off the brick wall in left, cutting the deficit to 8-6.
Only one of the six runs was earned to Ortiz (W, 8-3), who worked 5.0 innings with eight hits allowed, one walk and one strikeout.
Sunday, July 22nd G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves (46-56) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (56-45) play game three of the four-game series on Sunday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 5:05 PM. The G-Braves will have left-hander Yohan Flande (4-7, 4.46) on the mound, while the Yankees counter with right-hander Adam Warren (5-6, 3.86). Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM / 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA.
Scranton Yankees (2nd IL North) vs Gwinnett (3rd IL South)
Bring your ball and glove for a pre-game catch on the outfield grass at Coolray Field onFamily Sunday. All kids 12 and under will get to run the bases following the game. The Gwinnett Braves will also observe Cancer Awareness night as they recognize organizations that bring awareness to cancer prevention and detection or raise funds for cancer research. 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.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Hamby
Empire State Yankees Batting Order:
1) Chris Dickerson, CF
2) Kevin Russo, LF
3) Corban Joseph, 2B
4) Jack Cust, DH
5) Brandon Laird, 3B
6) Francisco Cervelli, C
7) Cole Garner, RF
8) Ramiro Pena, SS
9) Matt Antonelli, 1B
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Jose Constanza, LF
2) Luis Durango, CF
3) Felix Pie, RF
4) Ernesto Mejia, 1B
5) Stefan Gartrell, DH
6) Josh Wilson, SS
7) Ruben Gotay, 3B
8) Jose Yepez, C
9) Lance Zawadzki, 2B
Gwinnett Looking for Redemption Against Yankees
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
The Gwinnett Braves opened their eight-game homestand with an 11-3 loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in six innings on Friday night at Coolray Field. Ernesto Mejia went 2-for-2 with his team-leading 21st home run, but the Yankees scored five runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth before the rains came.
Jonny Venters made the start for the G-Braves as part of a Major League rehab assignment and worked a perfect first inning, throwing just six pitches. Jose Lugo (L, 2-6) replaced Venters and took the loss with eight runs on nine hits over just 2.1 innings.Cole McCurry yielded three more runs over 2.1 innings for Gwinnett.
Scranton jumped out to an early lead after tallying three runs in the second inning off Lugo. Jack Cust greeted Lugo with a single, then scored as Kosuke Fukudome blistered a triple into right-center. Ramiro Pena added an RBI single scoring Fukudome and Kevin Russo grounded into an RBI force-out scoring Cole Garner to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
Mejia answered back with a pair of hits to help the G-Braves draw even. The big first baseman singled and scored on a two-out double by Ruben Gotay that cut the deficit to 3-1 in the second inning. An inning later, Mejia smashed a two-run shot to left for his 21st blast of the year, tying the game at 3-3.
Scranton wasted little time recapturing the lead, as they crossed the plate five times in the fourth inning against Lugo. Russo ripped a two-run double to left-center scoring Pena and Doug Bernier to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. Francisco Cervelli added an RBI double and Brandon Laird tacked on two more runs with another double to increase the lead to 8-3 and chase Lugo from the game.
Unfortunately, Jose Constanza went 0-for-2 at the plate, ending his incredible Gwinnett franchise record hitting streak at 22 games. Constanza’s streak was the longest streak in the International League since the 2007 season, when Columbus’s Brandon Watson put together an IL-record 43-game hitting streak.
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
Saturday, July 21st G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees play game two of the four-game series on Saturday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. The Gwinnett starter is slated to be left-hander Brent Leach (0-2, 1.59 with Double-A Mississippi), while the Yankees will throw right-hander Ramon Ortiz (7-3, 2.84). Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM / 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.
Scranton Yankees (2nd IL North) vs Gwinnett (3rd IL South)
With the new school year just around the corner, Georgia Power and the Gwinnett Braves are teaming up to hand out a free backpack to the first 2,000 fans through the gates on Saturday night at Coolray Field. 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.
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
Empire State Yankees Batting Order:
1) Chris Dickerson, CF
2) Kevin Russo, 3B
3) Corban Joseph, 2B
4) Jack Cust, DH
5) Brandon Laird, 1B
6) Kosuke Fukodome, LF
7) Francisco Cervelli, C
8) Cole Garner, RF
9) Ramiro Pena, SS
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Luis Durango, CF
2) Josh Wilson, SS
3) Felix Pie, LF
4) Ernesto Mejia, 1B
5) Stefan Gartrell, DH
6) Jordan Parraz, RF
7) Ruben Gotay, 3B
8) Lance Zawadzki, 2B
9) J.C. Boscan, C
Constanza Extends Franchise Record Hit Streak to 22 Games
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Jose Constanza was 2-for-4 on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Indians, as he extended his 22-game hitting streak, which is the longest in the International League since the record 43-game streak of Brandon Watson of Columbus in 2007. The speedster has also raised his batting average to an IL-leading .324 mark on the season.
Constanza has obliterated the old Gwinnett franchise record hit streak of 14 games, which was set by two players in team history; Barbaro Canizares and Felix Pie, who accomplished the feat earlier this season.
The Atlanta Braves unfortunately have no room for the left fielder at the current time, however his role has never been greater within the organization. Constanza offers a variety of talents from speed to defensive awareness, making him invaluable to Gwinnett and the Braves. His current hit streak is just a small sample size of what the man can do on a regular basis. Constanza is hitting .391 during his current 22-game run.
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
The G-Braves return to Coolray Field Friday night to open a four-game series with the Empire State Yankees as Constanza looks to extend his streak to 23 games. Gwinnett Left-hander Jose Lugo (2-5, 5.02) will start against the Yankees right-hander John Maine (3-3, 6.28). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Julio Teheran Day and Superhero Night. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN AM 550/FM 102.9 in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.
Come celebrate Julio Teheran being named to the 2011 Pert All-Star Team, while watching out for your favorite superhero dressed-up around the stadium sponsored by 12 Stone. Immediately following the game, stick around for Fox 5 Friday Fireworks. A spectacular fireworks display will light up the night following every G-Braves Friday home game.
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.
By: Tony Piraro
Storylines Since the Break
A new post on your Gwinnett Braves has been long overdue since the start of the final 52-game stretch of the regular season. The G-Braves are off to a 1-4 start since the Triple-A All-Star break and maintain a 1.0-game lead on Durham for third place in the International League South Division. Dave Brundage’s club stands 10 games behind South-leading Charlotte with time still on the clock to catch the Knights, but it’s clear that the time is now to make a move up the standings.
Here’s some of the storylines playing out since the break:
Constanza has hit in a franchise-record 19-straight games as of July 17. (Chris Roughgarden)
Jose Constanza is on a tear that may not end any time soon.
Constanza entered the All-Star break with a 14-game hitting streak in tact, tying the existing Gwinnett franchise record shared by Barbaro Canizares (2010) and Felix Pie (2012). He’s re-written the record book with hits in five-straight games since, giving him a 19-game hitting streak as of July 17. That streak is the second-longest in the International League this season, trailing only a 20-game streak accomplished by three players including former Toledo Mud Hen Brad Eldred. Constanza isn’t just collecting a hit a night to advance history, he’s often doing it with huge, multi-hit efforts. He’s logged more than one hit in 12 of the 19 games, hitting an impressive .400 (34-for-85) on the streak. Not surprisingly, he’s shot to the top of the IL in batting average, now leading the circuit with a .322 mark.
Mejia leads the IL with 106 hits and ranks fourth with a .308 batting average. He’s among offensive leaders in just about every other category. (Karl Moore)
Ernesto Mejia has been even better since appearing in the All-Star Game.
What’s left to prove for Mejia after his first Triple-A All-Star Game selection? Plenty. He’s continued to do it with his bat, hitting .354 with four homers and nine RBI over the first 12 games of July. The slugging first baseman is riding a three-game multi-hit streak that has raised his average to .308, fourth-best in the International League. He leads the league with 106 hits (amazing for a player with such power to lead in total hits), while ranking second in total bases (189), tied for second in extra-base hits (44), tied for third in RBI (62), fourth in slugging percentage (.549), fifth in OPS (.916) and tied for fifth in home runs (19). If he can keep up the pace, the IL Triple Crown could be within his grasp in his first year at the level.
Redmond went 6-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts for the G-Braves before the trade. (Kyle Hess)
It’s going to be weird not seeing Todd Redmond pitch every fifth day.
One constant over the first four years of G-Braves baseball has been the consistency of Redmond in the rotation. The all-time wins leader in Gwinnett history was shipped to Cincinnati in exchange for shortstop Paul Janish on July 14. Redmond went 34-30 with a 3.78 ERA in 101 games, 97 starts in a G-Braves uniform, making him one of the faces of the young franchise. He’ll certainly be most remembered for his nine-inning no-hitter at Louisville on May 28, 2010, still the only no-no thrown by a G-Brave. Die-hard fans will certainly remember his outstanding 2011 season in which Redmond went 10-8 with the IL’s third-best ERA of 2.92. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be weird not seeing “Red” on the mound at Coolray Field. Even stranger, he may face his old club when his new team, the Louisville Bats, come to town in August.
Since throwing his first career complete game on June 3, Teheran is 1-3 with an 8.56 ERA in his last six starts. (Kyle Hess)
With Redmond gone, who steps up?
It’s no secret that even when Redmond was still a member of the rotation, Gwinnett starters had been struggling. The question is, who is able to shake off those struggles and consistently win for this team? We’ve seen flashes of dominance from Julio Teheran, Eric Junge, Yohan Flande and Jose Lugo this year, but who takes the reigns as the staff ace? Teheran would be the likely candidate given what he did just a season ago. There’s still time for the 21-year-old to improve upon a 6-5 record and uncharacteristic 4.96 ERA. Randall Delgado served up six runs in his first Triple-A start since being optioned to Gwinnett by Atlanta, but could also ressurect his season with a strong finish in Triple-A.
McCurry has thrown 5.0 scoreless innings across two appearances with Gwinnett this season. (Leslie Watts)
There’s a whole lot of new faces here.
Terry Tiffee, Cole McCurry, Andy Russell…who are these guys? The G-Braves’ roster underwent nine transactions this past weekend, giving the roster a bit of a new look. Not only the addition of Tiffee, a third baseman who has logged Major League time in Minnesota and Los Angeles (Dodgers), McCurry, a reliever who came over from the Baltimore system earlier this year and Russell (not to be confused with Adam), a 28-year-old reliever in just his second U.S. season after pitching in his native Australia, but also the “re-addition” of Jordan Parraz. Parraz had been out since May 7 with a broken left hand, but went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles in his first game back with Gwinnett on July 14 at Louisville. Which of the new faces becomes a key piece of the puzzle?
Carlyle ranks second among IL relief leaders in fewest walks per 9.0 innings with a 1.76 mark. (Melinda Pease)
With a slim lead late in the game, who gets the call?
Triple-A All-Star Cory Gearrin is currently on the DL, so who gets the coveted closer’s role? Jaye Chapman posted two saves and a win in three scoreless outings from July 4-12, but suffered a tough letdown in a blown save and loss on July 14 at Louisville. Buddy Carlyle is the active bullpen leader in ERA (2.34) and wins (5), but gave up the grand slam to Bats’ catcher Dioner Navarro that defeated the G-Braves on that same July 14 evening. Don’t count out the rest of the pen, Billy Bullock, Adam Russell, Dusty Hughes and others to get on track, but the late innings will still likely belong to Chapman and Carlyle.
That’s just a small sampling of what’s going on with the Gwinnett Braves just past the half-way point of July. To find out how it all plays out, keep coming back to the G-Blog and gwinnettbraves.com, as well as catching the radio broadcasts with Tony Schiavone on WDUN 550 AM / 102.9 FM and WDUN.com.
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Gwinnett Trying to End First Half on High Note
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
The Gwinnett Braves scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Durham Bulls, 6-5 on Saturday night at Coolray Field. Jose Yepez belted a one-out two-run homer, his second of the season, to erase a 5-4 deficit and provide the winning margin for the G-Braves. Jaye Chapman worked 2.2 scoreless innings for the win in relief.
The G-Braves entered the bottom of the eighth inning trailing the Bulls, 5-4. With one out, Stefan Gartrell lifted his third hit of the game, a single, into center field. Yepez then delivered in the clutch as he lifted left-hander Cesar Ramos’s 3-2 offering deep to left. The towering drive landed just fair, giving Gwinnett their first and only lead of the game at 6-5.
Yohan Flande worked 6.1 innings for Gwinnett, surrendering five runs on eight hits. The left-hander struck out four and walked two in a no-decision. Chapman entered the game with one out in the seventh and allowed one of two inherited runners to score on a single by Cole Figueroa that gave the Bulls a 5-4 lead. A second run nearly scored on the same hit, but Luis Durango threw to Yepez at the plate just in time to catch Reid Brignac. The outfield assist was Durango’s team-leading ninth of the year.
Chapman (W, 3-4) struck out Craig Albernaz to end the seventh inning and then worked two more scoreless frames to pick up the win. The right-hander struck out Tim Beckham swinging to strand the tying run aboard in the ninth.
Gwinnett’s offense collected 10 total hits, with Gartrell’s 3-for-4 effort and Jose Constanza’s 2-for-3 showing accounting for half of the production. Constanza extended his hitting streak to 14 games, tying Felix Pie and Barbaro Canizares for the longest hitting streak in Gwinnett franchise history.
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
Sunday, July 8th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves (42-49) conclude the series against the Durham Bulls (43-48) on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch at Coolray Field is scheduled for 2:05 PM. Right-handerJulio Teheran (5-5, 4.37) is set to start for the G-Braves against Bulls right-hander Lance Pendleton (4-2, 3.25). The game will be broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play. The television broadcast will air on CSS.
Durham Bulls (3rd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL South)
Sunday is Public Safety Day at Coolray Field, including Touch-a-Truck. Fans will get the opportunity to see awesome vehicles up close, including a fire truck, police car, ambulance and more. Sunday’s community focus is on Youth Athletics as the G-Braves recognize organizations that promote youth athletics and activities during the game. Finally, it’s another Family Sunday featuring pre-game catch in the outfield and a post-game base run for kids 12 and under. Tickets for all remaining home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Durham Bulls Batting Order:
1) Rich Thompson, CF
2) Shawn O’Malley
3) Henry Wrigley, DH
4) Brandon Allen, RF
5) Chris Gimenez, 1B
6) Reid Brignac, 2B
7) Tim Beckham, SS
8) Cole Figueroa, 3B
9) Craig Alberanz, C
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Jose Constanza, LF
2) Tyler Pastornicky, SS
3) Felix Pie, RF
4) Ernesto Mejia, 1B
5) Ruben Gotay, 3B
6) Stefan Gartrell, DH
7) Jose Yepez, C
8) Lance Zawadzki, 2B
9) Luis Durango, CF
Flande Seeking Third Straight Quality Start Tonight
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
Durham right-hander Matt Torra made a three-run first inning stand up as he worked 7.0 innings with one run allowed, leading the Bulls to a 4-1 win over the Gwinnett Braves on Friday night. The G-Braves managed only a run on a solo homer by Ruben Gotay in front of 7,907 fans at Coolray Field. With the loss, the G-Braves now trail third-place Durham by 2.0 games in the International League South Division.
The Bulls tallied three runs in the opening frame against Gwinnett starter Todd Redmondand never trailed. Rich Thompson led off the game with a double, then came around to score when the next hitter Jesus Feliciano singled him home for a 1-0 lead. Following back-to-back strikeouts by Redmond, Leslie Anderson touched up the right-hander for a two-run blast to straightaway center. Anderson’s ninth homer of the season made it a 3-0 Durham lead.
Redmond (L, 6-6) worked 6.0 innings and surrendered four earned runs on eight hits. The right-hander struck out eight and walked just two on 112 pitches, 68 strikes. The newest addition the Gwinnett bullpen from Advanced-A Lynchburg, Cole McCurry, made his G-Braves debut and was solid. The left-hander worked three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Felix Pie had the only multi-hit game for the G-Braves, going 2-for-4 with a double. Jose Constanza extended his hit streak to 13 games with an infield single in the eighth. The speedster ties Ernesto Mejia for the second-longest streak posted by a G-Brave this season and is one hit shy of tying the franchise record (14 games) held by Pie and Barbaro Canizares.
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
Saturday, July 7th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves (41-49) ready themselves for the second of the three-game series against the Durham Bulls (43-47). The first pitch at Coolray Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Left-hander Yohan Flande (3-6, 3.59) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves against Bulls right-hander Chris Archer (5-8, 4.74). The game will be broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play. The television broadcast will air on CSS.
Durham Bulls (3rd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL South)
Saturday night’s game features a Chopper Baseball Giveaway for the first 2,000 fans, sponsored by Tyson® Any’tizes® snacks. Tickets for all remaining home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
Durham Bulls Batting Order:
1) Rich Thompson, CF
2) Shawn O’Malley
3) Henry Wrigley, DH
4) Brandon Allen, RF
5) Chris Gimenez, 1B
6) Reid Brignac, 2B
7) Tim Beckham, SS
8) Cole Figueroa, 3B
9) Craig Alberanz, C
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Jose Constanza, LF
2) Tyler Pastornicky, SS
3) Felix Pie, RF
4) Ernesto Mejia, 1B
5) Ruben Gotay, 3B
6) Stefan Gartrell, DH
7) Jose Yepez, C
8) Lance Zawadzki, 2B
9) Luis Durango, CF
G-Braves Begin Final Series of First Half Tonight
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
The G-Braves have won four of their last five games following their franchise record 15-straight losses. However, in the month of July Gwinnett possesses a sterling record of 4-1 heading toward the break. Tonight the G-Braves begin a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays Triple-A affiliate and reigning International League South Division Champions. Currently, the Bulls are just one game ahead of Gwinnett in the standings, as the G-Braves trail first-place Charlotte by eight games after taking four of six from them in the previous six days.
The G-Braves and Knights split a Thursday night doubleheader at Knights’ Stadium. In game one, the G-Braves ran their winning streak to four with a come-from-behind 4-3 win as part of the July 3 postponed game from Coolray Field. However, the Knights ended the four-game streak in game two with an 8-0 shutout of Gwinnett.
Jose Constanza currently owns a 12-game hit streak, which is good enough to be the third longest streak of the season for a Gwinnett hitter. However, his teammate Felix Pie tied for the longest hit-streak in Gwinnett franchise history at 14 games, tying former G-Brave Barbaro Canizares, but Pie had it snapped the other night against Charlotte when he went 0-for-5. Ernesto Mejia registered the second longest hit-streak of the season with a 12-game tally. The All-Star also had a streak to start the season, as he reached base safely in his first 17 games of the 2012 campaign, which has been seconded by none of his teammates thus far.
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
Tuesday, July 3rd G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves (41-48) return to Coolray Field Friday night for game one of a three-game series against the Durham Bulls (42-47) to conclude the first half of the season prior to the 2012 All-Star break. Right-hander Todd Redmond (6-5, 3.23) is scheduled for the G-Braves against the Bulls right-hander Matt Torra (7-6, 4.43) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. The game will be broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.
Durham Bulls (3rd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL South)
Stick around after the game for our Independence Day Show following the Bulls and G-Braves contest. It will be the biggest and longest Fox 5 Friday Fireworks spectacular of the year! Celebrate Fourth of July with the G-Braves, as every fan in the stands will receive Free Thundersticks presented by 12 Stone.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Durham Bulls Batting Order:
1) Rich Thompson, CF
2) Jesus Feliciano, RF
3) Henry Wrigley, 1B
4) Brandon Allen, LF
5) Leslie Anderson, DH
6) Chris Gimenez, C
7) Reid Brignac, SS
8) Matt Mangini, 3B
9) Cole Figueroa, 2B
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Jose Constanza, LF
2) Luis Durango, CF
3) Felix Pie, RF
4) Ernesto Mejia, DH
5) Christian Marrero, 1B
6) Ruben Gotay, 3B
7) Josh Wilson, SS
8) J.C. Boscan, C
9) Lance Zawadzki, 2B
G-Braves Looking to Start Win-Streak Monday
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
The Gwinnett Braves snapped their franchise-record 15-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the first place Charlotte Knights on Sunday at Coolray Field. Felix Pie was the hero in a two-run ninth, delivering a walk-off single to right scoring Tyler Pastornicky to give the G-Braves their first win since June 15.
The G-Braves were heading toward their 16th straight loss before fortunes turned in the ninth against Charlotte left-hander Donnie Veal. Facing a 5-4 deficit, Luis Durango led off with a bunt single and then advanced to second on Jose Constanza’s sacrifice bunt. Pastornicky followed with a clutch double off a sliding Justin Greene in left-center, scoring Durango from second to tie the score at 4-4. The next batter, Pie, laced a 1-1 pitch from Veal (L, 3-2) to right field to score Pastornicky and send the home dugout racing on to the field in celebration.
Gwinnett had lost 27 of their previous 32 games dating back to May 30, including 25 of 30 contests in June before recording their sixth walk-off win of the year on Sunday. The G-Braves are now 1-1 on the four-game series, bringing them to within 10.0 games of Charlotte for first place in the International League South Division.
Some bright-spots for the G-Braves this season was Ernesto Mejia and Cory Gearrin both being named to the Triple-A All-Star team for the game on July 11, in Buffalo, New York at 7:05 p.m. ET. Luis Durango currently leads the IL in stolen bases (28) and is one shy of leading all of Triple-A baseball in swipes with 29. Felix Pie is currently tied for the franchise record with Barbaro Canizares his 14-game hit streak. Also, Jose Constanza currently possesses an eight-game hit streak for Gwinnett, alongside a team-high five-game multiple hit streak.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Monday, July 2nd G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves (38-47) play game three of the four-game series against the Charlotte Knights (47-37) on Monday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Left-hander Yohan Flande (3-6, 3.84) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves against right-hander Matt Zaleski (3-2, 4.48) of the Knights. The game will be broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.
Charlotte Knights (1st IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL South)
Monday is “Kids Eat Free” night at Coolray Field, where all kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, bag of chips and a small soda. 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.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Charlotte Knights Batting Order:
1) Ray Olmedo, 3B
2) Drew Garcia, 2B
3) Dan Johnson, 1B
4) Conor Jackson, LF
5) Hector Gimenez, DH
6) Josh Phegley, C
7) Jim Gallagher, RF
8) Ozzie Martinez, SS
9) Justin Greene, CF
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Jose Constanza, LF
2) Tyler Pastornicky, 2B
3) Felix Pie, RF
4) Ernesto Mejia, 1B
5) Christian Marrero, DH
6) Ruben Gotay, 3B
7) Jose Yepez, C
8) Josh Wilson, SS
9) Luis Durango, CF
Felix Pie, G-Braves Snap 15-Game Skid
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. – The Gwinnett Braves snapped their franchise-record 15-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the first place Charlotte Knights on Sunday at Coolray Field. Felix Pie was the hero in a two-run ninth, delivering a walk-off single to right scoring Tyler Pastornicky to give the G-Braves their first win since June 15. For the month of July, the Gwinnett Braves are unbeaten (1-0).
The G-Braves were in first place on June 5, when they hosted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies Triple-A) for a 10-1 loss at Coolray Field. At the time, the Knights were 0.5 games behind Gwinnett for first. 25 days later on June 30, the G-Braves found themselves in last place of the International League South standings, starring up at first-place Charlotte (White Sox Triple-A), as they trailed them by a season-high 11.0 games. The losing skid saw Gwinnett invent new ways to lose, but for the time being they have found the light at the end of the tunnel with a much-needed win. Their next objective is to draw within striking distance of Norfolk and Durham who lead the G-Braves in the standings by 2.0 and 4.0 games respectively.
The G-Braves were heading toward their 16th straight loss before fortunes turned in the ninth against Charlotte left-hander Donnie Veal. Facing a 5-4 deficit, Luis Durango led off with a bunt single and then advanced to second on Jose Constanza’s sacrifice bunt. Pastornicky followed with a clutch double off a sliding Justin Greene in left-center, scoring Durango from second to tie the score at 4-4. The next batter, Pie, laced a 1-1 pitch from Veal (L, 3-2) to right field to score Pastornicky and send the home dugout racing on to the field in celebration.
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
Gwinnett had lost 27 of their previous 32 games dating back to May 30, including 25 of 30 contests in June before recording their sixth walk-off win of the year on Sunday. The G-Braves are now 1-1 on the four-game series, bringing them to within 10.0 games of Charlotte for first place in the International League South Division.
It was a back-and-forth game for most of the day as Charlotte took leads of 2-0, 4-2 and 5-4 on the strength of three home runs. G-Braves starter Todd Redmond served up a two-run blast to Dan Johnson in the first inning, another two-run shot to Kyle Shelton in the fourth and a solo homer to Dallas McPherson that snapped a 4-4 tie in the sixth. Redmond did not factor in the decision despite allowing five runs, three earned on seven hits, including a season high-tying three home runs over 5.2 innings.
The G-Braves offense proved resilient, however, as they tied the score at 2-2 in the third inning and 4-4 in the fifth. Pie’s first hit of the day, an RBI double in the first inning, scored Constanza to cut the deficit to 2-1. Pie’s 10th double of the year extended his hitting streak to 14 games, matching the Gwinnett franchise record set by Barbaro Canizares in late 2010….
For the rest of the G-Braves recap from Sunday’s walk-off win, go to gwinnettbraves.com or click this link:
By: Tony Piraro
G-Braves Face “Mr. Perfect Game” Phil Humber
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
It was more heartbreak for the struggling Gwinnett Braves in the opener of a four-game series against the Charlotte Knights on Saturday night at Coolray Field. The Knights broke a 1-1 tie on a passed ball charged to catcher J.C. Boscan in the eighth, then added three more runs in the frame against Cory Gearrin to capture a 5-3 win over the G-Braves. Boscan atoned with a two-run double in the ninth, but couldn’t prevent Gwinnett from extending their franchise-record losing streak to 15 games.
This year’s G-Braves have lost 27 of their last 32 games dating back to May 30, including 25 of 30 contests this month. It was the first game of a seven-game homestand in the next nine days, including six of the next nine against Charlotte. The loss move the G-Braves to a season-high 11 games in back of Charlotte for first place in the International League South standings.
Some lone bright-spots for the G-Braves this season was Ernesto Mejia and Cory Gearrin both being named to the Triple-A All-Star team for the game on July 10, in Buffalo, New York at 7:05 p.m. ET. Luis Durango currently leads the IL in stolen bases (28) and is one shy of leading all of Triple-A baseball in swipes with 29. Felix Pie is currently on a 13-game hit streak, which is good enough for the tie of best mark this season by a G-Braves. Mejia tied the longest with a 13-game streak, which was one hit shy of the franchise record 14-game streak by Barbaro Canizares. Also, Jose Constanza currently possesses a seven-game hit streak for Gwinnett since rejoining the team from Atlanta.
Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden
Saturday, June 30 G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:
The Gwinnett Braves (37-47) play game two of the four-game series against the Charlotte Knights (48-36) tomorrow night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 5:05 PM. Right-hander Todd Redmond (6-5, 3.13) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves against right-hander Matt Zaleski (3-2, 4.48) of the Knights. The game will be broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, GA with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.
Charlotte Knights (47-36, 1st IL South) vs Gwinnett (37-46, 4th IL South)
Sunday is night two of Braves All-Star Weekend at Coolray Field, presented by Springer Mountain Farms. Former Atlanta Braves greats Dale Murphy and Ryan Kleskowill be on hand for special meet-and-greets and autograph opportunities. The first 1,000 fans will receive Gwinnett Braves pennants courtesy of Springer Mountain Farms. It’s also a Family Day at the ballpark including pre-game catch on the field and post-game base run for kids 12 and under. 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.
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
Charlotte Knights Batting Order:
1) Tyler Kuhn, LF
2) Ray Olmedo, 2B
3) Dan Johnson, 1B
4) Hector Gimenez, DH
5) Dallas McPherson, 3B
6) Josh Phegley, C
7) Justin Greene, CF
8) Ozzie Martinez, SS
9) Kyle Shelton, RF
G-Braves Batting Order:
1) Jose Constanza, LF
2) Tyler Pastornicky, SS
3) Felix Pie, RF
4) Ernesto Mejia, DH
5) Stefan Gartrell, LF
6) Christian Marrero, 1B
7) Ruben Gotay, 3B
8) Lance Zawadzki, 2B
9) J.C. Boscan, C
