G-Braves Plate Six in Ninth to Beat Buffalo

 

BUFFALO, NY - The Gwinnett Braves (44-56) broke a 1-1 tie with a six-run top of the ninth inning and beat the Buffalo Bisons (52-48) by a 7-1 score on Friday night in game three of the four-game series at Coca-Cola Field.

 

It was the third straight win for the G-Braves on the current seven-game road trip and the third straight game in which they scored the winning run in the top of the ninth.

 

The game was mostly a pitching duel as Gwinnett held a 1-0 lead through seven and a half innings. The G-Braves scored the first run of the game in the top of the third as Matt Lipka (2) clubbed a one-out solo home run to left-center off Buffalo starter Casey Lawrence. 

 

Buffalo tied the game in the bottom of the eighth as Domonic Brown, pinch hitting for rehabbing Toronto slugger Jose Bautisa, drew a bases-loaded walk from left-hander Matt Marksberry. 

 

But everything changed in the top of the ninth, as Omar Infante led off with a triple to left-center off Buffalo reliever Pat Venditte and scored on a double to left by Reid Brignac to break the 1-1 tie. George Kottaras singled to right with one out, scoring Brignac from second to raise the Gwinnett lead to 3-1. Daniel Castroreplaced Kottaras as a pinch runner and moved to third on a single to right by Mel Rojas, Jr. Rojas then stole second and a walk toRio Ruiz loaded the bases. 

 

Bobby Korecky was brought in from the Buffalo bullpen and Lipka greeted him with a triple down the third base line, clearing the bases and putting the G-Braves up 6-1. Braeden Schlehuber followed with a single to left, scoring Lipka for the eventual 7-1 final.

 

The G-Braves received a fine pitching performance from starter Rob Whalen, who left with a 1-0 lead, two on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth. He completed 7.2 innings with four hits, one earned run, two walks and four strikeouts. Bradley Roney replaced Whalen and walked the one batter he faced to load the bases. Marksberry (BS, 1, W, 4-2) walked in the tying run, but got the win by pitching a scoreless third of an inning. Maikel Cleto worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth with one hit, one walk and one strikeout. 

 

Lawrence pitched 7.0 innings with four hits, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts for the Bisons. Venditte (L, 2-1) went 1.1 innings with four hits, five earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Korecky worked two thirds of an inning with three hits and one earned run.

 

Offensively, Lipka had the big night for the G-Braves by going 2-for-4 with a triple, homer, two runs scored and four RBIs. Brignac was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

 

For Buffalo, Alexi Casilla went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

 

The G-Braves and Bisons meet in game three of the four-game series on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Field. Right-hander Roberto Hernandez (4-5, 4.62) will start for Gwinnett, while Buffalo will start right-hander Drew Hutchison (6-4, 3.30). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone will have the broadcast of the game beginning at 5:35 p.m. on 97.7 FM.