Syracuse Slips By Gwinnett, 5-2

G-Braves see two-game winning streak snapped

By Dave Lezotte

July 27, 2014

SYRACUSE, NY - After taking the first two games of the four-game series at NBT Bank Stadium, the Gwinnett Braves (48-61) fell 5-2 to the Syracuse Chiefs (62-47) on Sunday afternoon. A solo home run by Steven Souza, Jr. snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning and the Chiefs never trailed the rest of the way.

Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (L, 0-5) surrendered three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings of work. He allowed an RBI double to Josh Johnson in the second inning, Souza's go-ahead blast in the third inning and an RBI single to Emmanuel Burriss in the fourth inning.

Gwinnett scored twice against Chiefs' right-hander Blake Treinen to get as close as 3-2. Jose Constanza drove in the first run with an RBI single scoring Steve Lerud in the third. In the sixth, Elmer Reyes singled, took third on a double by Tyler Pastornicky and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Boggs.

Treinen (W, 7-1) allowed just those two runs on six hits over 7.0 innings. Left-hander Matt Grace (H, 5) and right-hander Rafael Martin (S, 1) combined on 2.0 scoreless innings to finish the game.

Following Northcraft, left-hander Luis Avilan and right-hander James Hoyt tossed scoreless innings. Left-hander Atahualpa Severino served up a pair of runs in the eighth as Will Rhymes and Burriss each notched RBI singles to push the Syracuse lead to 5-2.

For Gwinnett, Constanza produced his third straight multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Pastornicky went 1-for-4 with a double.

Burriss had a huge day in the leadoff spot for Syracuse, finishing 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Souza, Jr. went 1-for-2 with his 17^th home run of the year and one RBI.

The Gwinnett Braves and Syracuse Chiefs will play the finale of the four-game series on Monday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium, first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM. Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (1-3, 6.00) will start for the G-Braves, while the Chiefs will counter with right-hander A.J. Cole (3-0, 2.64). The radio broadcast will air at 11:45 AM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app.

The G-Braves return to Coolray Field on Saturday, August 2 for a 7:05 PM game against the Charlotte Knights. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com to purchase.