G-Braves hold off Red Wings
The Lead: The Gwinnett Braves held off the Rochester Red Wings 3-1 on Wednesday night at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA. Scott Diamond made his first start at Coolray Field count, shutting down the Red Wings for his first Triple-A win. The G-Braves (48-56) pulled within 15.5 games behind International League South leaders Durham in last place, and within 6.5 games of Wild Card-leaders Louisville (at press time). Rochester (39-67), also in the bottom of their division, remains 21.5 games behind IL North leaders Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
It Was Over When: Sloppy defensive play caught up with Rochester again, as a 6th inning error allowed both third baseman Wes Timmons and first baseman Freddie Freeman to move into scoring position. DH Barbaro Canizares stepped up next and drove them both home with a single for the difference in the game. The Red Wings finished with 3 errors in the contest.
Braves Beat:
On the Mound: LHP Diamond (1-0) went 6.0 IP and allowed just 1 R/ER on 4 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 2 batters. He has now gone 13.0 IP and allowed just 1 ER in his last 2 starts after yielding 6 ER in 3.0 IP in his G-Braves debut. RHP Stephen Marek went 1.0 IP without allowing a run and striking out 1, extending his season-high scoreless streak to 23.0 IP. RHP Closer Craig Kimbrel went a scoreless frame to clinch his 13th save of the season.
At the plate: Canizares finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Freeman had a 1-for-4 night with an RBI in his third straight game.
The opposition:
On the Mound: Rochester RHP Jeff Manship (3-6) went 5.2 IP, allowing 4 hits and 2 R (none earned) in earning the loss.
At the plate: Second baseman Brendan Harris was 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
On Deck: Gwinnett continues their season long 12-day, 12-game homestand tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m., trying to take a third consecutive game in the four game series against Rochester. The G-Braves will send LHP Jose Ortegano (2-8, 6.58 ERA) to the hill trying to snap his franchise record 8 game losing skid. He'll go against RHP David Bromberg (1-1, 4.15 ERA) for the Red Wings. The game will be broadcast on the radio at WDUN-550 AM and can be found on TV on CSS.
Etc: Tomorrow is $3 Thursday at Coolray Field. Fans can buy featured sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks and beer from the $3 Thursday cart behind Section 116 this Thursday and every Thursday for the rest of the season. Moby Dick will give a postgame concert courtesy of Heineken.