Columbus Shuts Down Gwinnett, 4-0
COLUMBUS, OH - Behind a dominant performance by starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, the Columbus Clippers (25-19) blanked the Gwinnett Braves (19-25) 4-0 Sunday afternoon in the finale of the four-game series at Huntington Park.
Chacin (W, 1-1) and reliever Anthony Swarzak combined to retire the final 20 Gwinnett batters in a row for the shutout win. Chacin pitched 8.0 innings with three hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Swarzak worked a scoreless top of the ninth.
The first run for the Clippers came in the bottom of the third off of Gwinnett starting pitcher Cody Martin. With two outs and the bases empty, Martin hit Tyler Holt with a pitch. Michael Martinez plated Holt from first with a long double to right-center for a 1-0 lead.
Columbus added a run in the bottom of the fourth, this time off of Gwinnett reliever Greg Smith. With one out, Jerry Sands walked and moved to third on a double down the first-base line by former Wesleyan School star James Ramsey. A ground-out to short by Ryan Rohlinger pushed Sands in from third for a 2-0 Clippers' advantage.
Walters led off the bottom of the sixth with a double off of Smith and moved to third on a fly-out to right by Sands. A single to center by Ramsey plated Walters for a 3-0 lead. Rohlinger reached first base on a force play and scored on a double to right by Carlos Moncrief for the final run of the game.
Martin (L, 0-1), making his first start with Gwinnett since being optioned by Atlanta on May 19, went 3.0 innings with two hits, one earned run and four strikeouts. Smith worked 4.0 innings with eight hits, two walks and three earned runs. Mitchell Boggs pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth.
For Gwinnett, Cedric Hunter went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to six games. Eury Perez now has an eight-game hitting streak after going 1-for-4. Perez's single with one out in the third inning was the final time a G-Brave reached base in the game. Sean Kazmar saw his 17-game on-base streak come to an end with an 0-for-3 day.
For Columbus, Walters, Ramsey, Martinez and Alex Lavisky each went 2-for-4.
The G-Braves return home to Coolray Field to begin a seven-game homestand. Monday night will be game one of a four-game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Matt Wisler (2-3, 4.40) will be on the mound for Gwinnett. The IronPigs will start left-hander Anthony Vasquez (1-0, 1.69). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:00 p.m.
All tickets for Monday night's game are just $5 (excluding the Home Plate Club), and all fans presenting a military I.D. at the Coolray Field Ticket Office will receive a free ticket (limit one per I.D.). It's also "Meal Deal Monday" featuring a chicken sandwich, fries and 16 oz. soft drink for $7 at Flashpoint Grille. Tickets are on sale now, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.