Weigel, G-Braves Hammer Mud Hens, 7-1

TOLEDO, OH-Behind the pitching of starter Patrick Weigel  and a 10-hit attack, the Gwinnett Braves (33-30) defeated the Toledo Mud Hens (28-34) by a 7-1 score on Tuesday night in game one of their three-game series at Fifth Third Field.
 
While the 22-year-old Weigel was dominating on the mound, the G-Braves offense responded with seven runs over a two inning span beginning in the top of the third.Kyle Kubitza  led off with a deep double to right off Mud Hens starting pitcher Matt Crouse. Xavier Avery  drew a one-out walk and Ozzie Albies  followed with a double to left, scoring Kubitza for a 1-0 lead. Jace Peterson  then singled to center, plating both Avery and Albies for a 3-0 lead. Matt Tuiasosopo  and Carlos Franco  each hit RBI singles of their own later in the inning to push the Gwinnett lead to 5-0.
 
The G-Braves added to the advantage in the top of the fourth as with two outs, Albies tripled off the wall in right-center and scored on an infield single by Jace Peterson. Dustin Peterson then doubled to deep left-center, scoring Jace Peterson for a 7-0 lead, which proved to be more than enough offense for the visiting G-Braves.
 
The only Toledo run came in the bottom of the eighth, when the first pitch from reliever Mauricio Cabrera  was crushed deep to left by Michael Almanzar (4) for a solo home run, cutting the Gwinnett lead to 7-1. The homer by Almanzar ended a 28 inning scoreless streak by Gwinnett pitching.
 
Weigel (W, 3-1) went 7.0 innings for his second straight quality start. He allowed two hits with one walk and five strikeouts to earn his third win with Gwinnett and sixth overall on the season. Cabrera worked 1.0 inning with two hits, one earned run and one strikeout. David Peterson capped the night with a scoreless bottom of the ninth with one hit and one strikeout.
 
Crouse (L, 1-2) pitched 4.0 innings with nine hits, seven earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Kyle Ryan went 2.0 innings with one hit and two walks. Logan Kensing worked 1.0 inning with one strikeout. Blaine Hardy pitched 1.0 inning with one strikeout. Bruce Rondón also went 1.0 inning with one strikeout.
 
Jace Peterson led the G-Braves with a 2-for-4 night with two runs and three RBIs. Albies was also 2-for-4 with two runs, a double, a triple and an RBI in his first game since being activated off the disabled list. Dustin Peterson went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Tuiasosopo was 1-for-4 to up his hitting streak to six games.
 
Toledo was paced by Almanzar who was 1-for-3 with a solo homerun.
 
The G-Braves and Mud Hens meet in game two of the series Wednesday night at 7:05 in Toledo. Right-hander Kris Medlen (0-1, 4.96) will get the start for the G-Braves. Toledo has yet to announce a starting pitcher. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM "The Other Side of the River" beginning at 6:35 p.m.
 
The G-Braves return home on Monday, June 19 to begin a seven-game homestand against the Charlotte Knights and Norfolk Tides. For tickets, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.