G-Braves Rally Past Buffalo, 5-4
BUFFALO, NY -The Gwinnett Braves (30-44) won their second game in a row by mounting a late comeback and clipping the Buffalo Bisons (36-35) 5-4 on Wednesday night in game three of the four game series at Coca-Cola Park in Buffalo, New York.
The Bisons held a 4-1 lead heading to the top of the eighth inning, but that's where the G-Braves began the comeback. With reliever Joel Carreno entering the game in place of starter Ricky Romero, Todd Cunningham shot a single to right to begin the inning. Joey Terdoslavich then smacked Carreno's next pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer to cut the Buffalo lead to 4-3.
In the top of the ninth, the G-Braves took the lead as Jose Yepez singled to right with one out. After a strikeout, Jose Constanza stroked a single to center. The G-Braves put in pitcher Juan Cedeno as a pinch runner at second, and with two men on and two outs, Cunningham dropped a single in front of Buffalo centerfielder Anthony Gose, scoring Cedeno from second to tie the game 4-4. However, Gose dropped the ball in center and was slow getting the ball back to the infield, allowing Constanza to score from first and giving the G-Braves a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, behind the relief pitching of Ryan Buchter and Wirfin Obispo (S, 2) Gwinnett secured the win.
Things didn't start well for the Braves, as Buffalo took an early lead off of starter Yohan Flande. In the bottom of the first, Gose lined a one out single to left and scored on a triple to right by Moises Sierra, making it 1-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Bisons had their biggest inning as former G-Braves slugger Mauro Gomez drilled his league-leading 19th homer of the season, a solo homer to left, giving Buffalo a 2-0 lead. Sierra followed with a walk, stole second base and scored on a double to left by Jim Negrych, upping the lead to 3-0. Negrych moved to third on a ground out to second and scored on a throwing error by Gwinnett shortstop Paul Janish to make it 4-0 Buffalo after three.
The Braves first run of the game came in the top of the fifth off of Romero as Sean Kazmar doubled to left moved to third on a passed ball. Kazmar then scored on a fielders' choice off the bat of Cunningham. The tally cut the Buffalo lead to 4-1, a lead that held until the Braves' top of the eighth.
Pat Egan (W, 1-1) worked 2.0 innings of relief for his first Triple-A win of the season. He allowed two hits and no runs while striking out three. Egan spelled Kameron Loe who worked a scoreless sixth with one walk and one strikeout. Loe entered the game after Flande had gone 5.0 innings with five hits, three earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts. In the final frame, Buchter went 0.2 of an inning with one walk and one strikeout. Obispo got his second save in as many nights with 0.1 of an inning pitch and one strikeout, getting Gomez to end the game. Obispo ran his scoreless inning streak to 15.1 over 12 outings.
Romero went 7.0 strong innings in his eighth start of the season for Buffalo. He gave up five hits and one unearned run while walking three and striking out six. Carreno went 1.0 inning with two hits, two earned runs and two strikeouts. John Stilson (L, 1-1) suffered the loss by giving up three hits, two runs, one earned, while striking out two in the ninth.
At the plate, Gwinnett was led by Mejia and Cunningham who each went 2-for-4. Cunningham extended his hitting streak to six games. Constanza was 2-for-5 and Terdoslavich's two-run homer upped his RBI count to 50 on the season.
The Bisons were led by Gose who went 2-for -4
The Braves and Bisons conclude the four game series Thursday afternoon in Buffalo. Gwinnett will start Right-hander David Hale (1-3, 5.28). Right-hander Justin Germano (4-5, 6.22) gets the start for the Bisons. Tony Schiavone will have the call on 1240 ESPN Radio out of Gainesville, GA. First pitch set for 1:05 p.m.
Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.