Gwinnett Blasts Charlotte 6-0 in Five Innings

 

CHARLOTTE, NC - Behind two home runs from Ronnier Mustelier and homers from Reid Brignac and Mel Rojas Jr., the Gwinnett Braves (41-48) claimed a 6-0 victory over the Charlotte Knights (40-50) in a rain-shortened five-inning contest on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark. The G-Braves, riding a four-game winning streak, now lead the International League South Division by 1.5 games over the Knights.

 

All six runs came via the long-ball, as Gwinnett hit four on the night. It's the team's first four-homer game since August 6, 2014, also at BB&T Ballpark in a 12-10 loss to the Knights.

 

G-Braves' starting pitcher Chris Ellis (W, 1-3) turned in his second consecutive rain-shortened complete game effort, working 5.0 scoreless innings for his first career Triple-A win. In his best outing since joining Gwinnett, he allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three.

 

In the top of the first inning, Charlotte starting pitcher Anthony Ranaudo had two outs and none on, but Brignac (4) belted a solo homer to left for a 1-0 lead.

  

Mustelier (2) added to the total in the top of the fourth with a lead-off solo homer to right to push the lead to 2-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, Matt Lipka led off with a double to left, was bunted to third by Braeden Schlehuber and scored on a long two-run homer to right by Rojas Jr. (4). With two outs, Brignac doubled to right-center and Mustelier (3) followed with his second homer of the game, a two-run shot to left field for a 6-0 lead.

 

In the top of the sixth, severe thunderstorms in the Charlotte area halted play and the game was called after a 1:17 delay.

 

Mustelier went 2-for-3 with his third career two-homer game and three RBIs for Gwinnett. Rojas Jr. homered for the third time in two games on the series and finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Brignac went 2-for-3 with a homer, two runs scored and one RBI.

 

Ranaudo (L, 4-3) pitched a 5.0-inning complete game in the loss for Charlotte, allowing eight hits and six earned runs while striking out three. Jason Bourgeois, Jerry Sands, Vinny Rottino and Danny Muno each went 1-for-2.

 

The G-Braves and Knights meet in game three of the four-game series on Saturday night in Charlotte at 6:05 p.m. Gwinnett will start right-hander Aaron Blair (3-2, 4.09), while the Knights have right-hander Jacob Turner (4-7, 4.90) scheduled to start. Tony Schiavone has the call of the action beginning at 5:35 p.m. on 97.7 FM.