G-Braves Edge Bisons, 2-1

BUFFALO, NY - In a game dominated by pitching, it was the long ball that was the difference as the Gwinnett Braves (38-38) eased past the Buffalo Bisons (37-40) Monday night by a 2-1 score in the opener of the three-game series at Coca-Cola Field.

The win gave Gwinnett a seven-game winning streak at Buffalo across the past three seasons.

Gwinnett scored both of its runs in the top of the fourth. With Eric Young, Jr. on first via a walk and one out, Adonis Garcia drilled a long two-run home run to left off of Buffalo right-handed starter Scott Copeland for a 2-0 lead. 

That two-run shot would be all Gwinnett starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (W, 1-4) would need. In picking up his first G-Braves win of the season, the right-hander was dominant. He worked 7.0 innings, scattered five hits with one earned run, three walks and six strikeouts. He also tossed a season-high 116 pitches.

The bottom of the fourth turned out to be a big moment in the game. Trailing 2-0, the Bisons loaded the bases with two outs, but Foltynewicz struck out Jonathan Diaz to end the threat. The only run Foltynewicz gave up came in the bottom of the fifth when Caleb Gindl hit a one out, solo homer to right. 

Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (S, 1), in his first appearance since a stint on the disabled list, pitched 2.0 scoreless innings for the save. He gave up one hit and walked one.

Copeland (L, 4-2) pitched 7.0 innings with three hits, two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Righty Ryan Tepera worked 2.0 innings with three strikeouts.

Garcia was 1-for-4 with a run and the homer for Gwinnett. Cedric Hunter and Todd Cunningham were each 1-for-3, as the G-Braves managed three hits on the night.

For Buffalo, Gindl was 2-for-3 with a solo homer, and Melky Mesa went 2-for-4 as part of a six-hit effort for the Bisons.

The G-Braves and Bisons will play game two of the three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Coca-Cola Field. Right-hander Cody Martin (1-3, 2.30) will pitch for Gwinnett. Buffalo will counter with lefty Randy Wolf (5-1, 3.06). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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The Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Follow the G-Braves at GwinnettBraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.