Gwinnett Hammers Charlotte, 10-5
CHARLOTTE, NC -The Gwinnett Braves (57-73) scored six runs in the top of the fourth to defeat the Charlotte Knights (58-74) by a 10-5 score Tuesday night in the finale of the two games series at BB&T Ballpark.
With the victory, the G-Braves snapped a five game losing streak against the Knights.
After a scoreless first inning, the Knights delivered the first blow as Matt Tuiasosopo drilled a two-run homer to centerfield off of Gwinnett starter Kanekoa Texeira for an early 2-0 lead.
The G-Braves scored their first run of the game in the top of the third. Charlotte starting pitcher Carlos Rodon walked both Edward Salcedo and Jose Yepez to start the frame. Rodon, the third overall selection in the 2014 June free agent draft, ran into more trouble in the frame as Elmer Reyes stroked a single to left to load the bases. However, Rodon minimized the damage, allowing one run on a sacrifice fly out by Donnie Murphy.
The Braves used the momentum from the top of the third inning to take the lead in the fourth. With Jarrett Casey pitching for the Knights, the G-Braves got the offense going with two outs and the bases empty. Joe Leonard walked and moved to second on an error by Charlotte third baseman Matt Davidson. A walk to Jose Yepez loaded the bases and Jose Constanza followed with an infield single, scoring Leonard to tie the game. Reyes then hit a deep fly ball to center that was lost in the lights by Charlotte centerfielder Jared Mitchell. Reyes was awarded a double and three RBIs as he cleared the bases and gave the G-Braves a 5-2 advantage. After a single by Murphy and walk to Terdoslavich, Sean Kazmar capped the scoring with a two-run double to give the G-Braves a 7-2 lead.
The Knights answered in the bottom half of the frame with three runs of their own. Texeira walked Josh Richmond with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 7-3. Carlos Sanchez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4 and Marcus Semien singled to center off of G-Braves reliever Ryan Buchter to make it 7-5. However, the hit by Semien would be the last hit the Knights would get in the game as the Braves bullpen retired the final 14 batters in order to close out the game.
Gwinnett added three in the top of the seventh off of Charlotte reliever Donnie Veal. Terdoslavich (12) led off with a solo homer to right for an 8-5 advantage, and a sac fly by Salcedo and an RBI single by Yepez accounted for the other two runs.
Buchter (W, 3-3) earned the win as he worked 2.0 innings with one hit, two walks and one strikeout. James Hoyt went 2.0 innings with four strikeouts. Carlos Fisher pitched 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.
Rodon went a solid 3.0 innings with one hit, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts in his Triple-A debut. Casey (L, 0-2) worked 1.0 inning with four hits, six unearned runs and three walks. Veal pitched 3.0 innings with five hits, three earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Taylor Thompson worked 2.0 innings with three hits and two strikeouts.
At the plate, the G-Braves were led by Reyes who was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Brandon Boggs was 2-for-5; Leonard was 2-for-3 with two runs and a double and Terdoslavich was 1-for-4 with a solo homer, his third in his last three games.
For Charlotte Michael Taylor was 2-for-3 with two runs.
The two teams head to Coolray Field to begin at two game series Wednesday night. RHP Terry Doyle (2-3, 3.58) will start for Gwinnett. The Knights will start RHP Chris Beck (1-2, 3.25). First pitch is set Tony Schiavone has the radio call beginning at 6:20 p.m. on wdun.com, gwinnettbraves.com, Tune-In Radio and MiLB First Pitch.