Sims, Bats Lead G-Braves To 8-1 Win

Behind a season-high seven extra-base hits and a quality start from Lucas Sims, the Gwinnett Braves (16-13) defeated the Toledo Mud Hens (15-13) 8-1 in the opener of their four-game series on Monday night at Coolray Field.
Sims (W, 3-0) allowed one earned run on five hits over 6.1 innings while walking two and striking out four. Offensively, Sean Kazmar Jr. led the way with a home run and three RBIs as Gwinnett started its seven-game homestand victorious.
In the first inning, the Mud Hens took a 1-0 lead as a single from Efren Navarro off Sims scored JaCoby Jones. That would prove to be all the offense the visitors would produce for the game.   
The G-Braves were quick to respond in the bottom of the first against Toledo starting pitcher Drew VerHagen (L, 2-1). Ozzie Albies led off with a single. Kazmar Jr. followed with a 390-foot blast to left for his fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to give the G-Braves a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Mel Rojas Jr. doubled and came in to score on another double from Anthony Recker to put Gwinnett ahead 3-1.
After getting the lead, Sims wouldn't give it up. In the second, he retired the side in order. After allowing leadoff singles in both the third and fourth innings, Sims retired the next three batters he faced in each frame to keep the Mud Hens off the board. Once Bryan Holaday led off the fifth with a walk, the G-Braves' defense quickly got Sims back on track. With Holaday running, Brendan Ryan lined out to Rojas Jr. in right. Rojas Jr. then threw back to first, doubling off Holaday to keep the lead at 3-1.
Kyle Kubitza led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk against VerHagen to begin what became another rally for the G-Braves. Xavier Avery followed with a double to put two runners on. With Albies at the plate, a pitch from VerHagen got past catcher Holaday for a passed ball, allowing Kubitza to score from third. Later in the at-bat, Albies laced an RBI triple to right, plating Avery. The next batter, Kazmar Jr., lined out to left field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Albies with Gwinnett's sixth run of the night.
In the sixth, Sims returned to the mound with a five-run lead and retired the side in order. After Gwinnett plated another run on an error in the bottom of the sixth, Sims headed back out for the seventh. After allowing a one-out single, Sims was pulled by manager Damon Berryhill and replaced with Caleb Dirks. The right-handed reliever stranded an inherited runner for Sims by inducing a fly out and striking out one.
Dirks recorded a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless eighth and Rio Ruiz capped the night's scoring by blasting a solo home run to right, his fourth of the year, to give Gwinnett a seven-run lead.
In the ninth, Mauricio Cabrera worked around a pair of hit batters to pitch a clean frame and finish off the win for the G-Braves.
Albies and Ruiz each finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Gwinnett. Navarro led the Mud Hens with a 2-for-3 effort.
The Gwinnett Braves and Toledo Mud Hens continue the four-game series on Tuesday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Matt Wisler (0-1, 3.50) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves, while the Mud Hens will counter with left-hander Anthony Vasquez (0-0, 0.00). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 6:35 p.m.
Tuesday is another "Two-for-Tuesday" as all Dugout seats are two for the price of one. Purchase at the Coolray Field Ticket Office by calling 678-277-0340. Tickets can also be purchased online at GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.