The Gwinnett Braves closed out a five-game homestand with the Pawtucket Red Sox with a 7-3 loss Monday night at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA. The loss combined with Durham winning both games of a doubleheader, drops Gwinnett (67-56) to three full games behind the first place Bulls (69-52) in the International League South while Pawtucket (70-52) extends their IL North lead to two full games over Lehigh Valley (69-55) thanks to LHV dropping both ends of a doubleheader. The G-Braves are one game behind Lehigh Valley in the Wild Card race.
Pawtucket took an early lead scoring in their first when Ryan Lavarnway homered off G-Braves starter Erik Cordier then added two more runs in the 2nd inning (including a leadoff homerun by Daniel Nava) to carry a 3-0 lead to the 3rd inning. Gwinnett did all their scoring for the game in the 3rd inning when Jeff Fiorentino scored on a sac fly after reaching base on a single, stealing second base then advancing to third on a wild pitch. Stefan Gartrell then came to the plate with Ruben Gotay on base and hit his 25th homer of the year to finish the scoring for the G-Braves. The score remained 3-3 until the 8th inning when the Red Sox scored three runs after two were out then added one more run in the 9th.
Final Score: Pawtucket Red Sox 7 Gwinnett Braves 3
RHP Erik Cordier (ND, 4-8, 5.28 ERA) made his 15th start of the year and worked 6.0 innings, allowed 6 hits and 3 runs (earned) while walking 3 and striking out 7. The seven K’s are the most he has tallied since July 15 when he struck out 8 against the Norfolk Tides. Cordier has now given up 21 earned runs in his last 23.2 IP; RHP Anthony Varvaro (L, 2-7, 3.10 ERA) was optioned to Gwinnett earlier in the day from Atlanta and made his 34th appearance with the G-Braves this season. After working a scoreless 7th inning Varvaro ran into trouble in the 8th after retiring the first two hitters. He walked back-to-back batters then gave up a single and a double before being pulled. Varvaro pitched 1.2 innings and gave up 3 runs (earned) on 3 hits and issued a pair of walks while striking out 2; RHP Jaye Chapman (ND, 1-3, 2.72 ERA) came on with two out in the 8th and worked 1.1 innings allowing 3 hits and 1 run (earned), walked 2 and struck out 1.
The pen allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and walked 5 in 3.0 innings pitched.
Pawtucket pitching held Gwinnett scoreless in 17 of the last 18 innings played and did not walk a batter in Monday’s game. The G-Braves had 9 hits on the day but were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
1B Mauro Gomez (.281, 19 HRs/68 RBI) led Gwinnett with a 3-for-4 night while 2B Ruben Gotay (. 263, 3 HRs/20 RBI) and CF Jeff Fiorentino (.255, 3 HRs/16 RBI) both went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Fiorentino was also 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts; DH Stefan Gartrell (.257, 25 HRs/79 RBI) was 1-for-4 with a homerun and 2 runs-batted-in. He is second in the IL in HRs and tied for the league lead in RBIs. Gartrell is also third in slugging percentage at .525.
ON DECK:
Gwinnett starts a six game road trip that begins with a four game set in Syracuse against the Chiefs on Tuesday. The G-Braves have not announced the starter for Tuesday’s game- it would be Randall Delgado’s start but he has been called up to Atlanta and will start Tuesday’s game. The Chiefs will go with RHP Brad Meyers (4-4, 3.79 ERA).
International League News:
The IL announced Columbus OF Chad Huffman and Pawtucket pitcher Matt Fox have been named the League’s Batter and Pitcher of the week honors for the week ending August 14th. Huffman has won the honor twice this year and is the seventh overall for Columbus, the most in the league.
Related: Matt Fox throws first complete game in shutout while only allowing a pair of hits
Visit Pert Plus MiLB Stars to vote for the G-Braves duo of RHP Julio Teheran and LHP Mike Minor. Voting will determine which MiLB prospect fans believe will have the biggest Major League impact of 55 Triple-A prospects.
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