Gwinnett Drops 7-5 Decision at Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY- The Louisville Bats (18-33) jumped on Gwinnett Braves (27-24) pitching for 13 hits in a 7-5 win on Wednesday night in game two of their three-game series at Louisville Slugger Field.
 
The loss was the second in a row for G-Braves, and with a Durham 5-1 win over Rochester, drops them four games out of first in the International League South division standings. 
 
The G-Braves took the first lead in the game, as in the top of the second, Louisville starter Kyle McMyne walked Anthony Recker  and Johan Camargo . Adonis García  drove in both men with a double to left for a 2-0 Gwinnett lead.
 
However, the Bats cut into the lead in the bottom of the third as with two men on and no outs, Jesse Winker slammed an RBI double to right off Gwinnett starting pitcher Wes Parsons , cutting the Gwinnett lead to 2-1. The Bats took the lead an inning later as with runners on first and second and two outs, Winker pounded a single to center, tying the game at 2-2, but Gwinnett center fielder Lane Adams  misplayed the ball, allowing a second runner to score on the play for a 3-2 Louisville lead.
 
Gwinnett fired right back in the top of the fifth off Louisville pitcher Lucas Luetge as with one out, pinch hitter Braeden Schlehuber (1) crushed a solo homer to left, tying the game at 3-3. The home run was Schlehuber's first career Triple-A home run in his 82nd game with the G-Braves.
 
However, the tie did not last long, as in the bottom of the fifth, Gwinnett reliever Akeel Morris  gave up a leadoff solo homer to right to Sebastian Elizalde (2), giving the lead back to Louisville at 4-3. The Bats lead grew to 6-3 when Winker lined a two RBI single to center off Morris in the bottom of the fifth. 
 
Gwinnett closed the gap in the bottom of the seventh when Camargo (4) hit a two-run homer to left-center off Louisville reliever, and Marietta, Ga., native, Evan Mitchell. However, the G-Braves could get no closer.
 
Parsons pitched 4.0 innings with nine hits, three runs (two earned) one walk and six strikeouts in his first career Triple-A start. Morris (L, 0-2) went 1.2 innings with two hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks. Evan Phillips , making his Triple-A debut for Gwinnett, worked 1.1 innings with one hit. Mauricio Cabrera  pitched 1.0 inning with one hit, one earned run and three walks.
 
McMyne went 3.0 innings with two hits, two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. Luetge (W, 1-2) worked 2.0 innings with three hits, one earned run and two strikeouts. Mitchell (H, 3) pitched 2.0 innings with four hits, two earned runs and one strikeout. Louis Coleman (H, 4) went 1.0 inning with one hit and one walk. Kevin Shackelford (S, 7) worked a scoreless top of the ninth with three strikeouts.
 
Camargo was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a two-run homer to lead Gwinnett. Garcia was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
 
Winker had the big night for Louisville, going 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. Darnell Sweeney was 2-for-3 with two runs and Elizalde went 2-for-3 with a solo homer.
 
The G-Braves and Bats conclude the three game series on Thursday night in Louisville. Southpaw Andrew Albers (4-1, 3.46) will get the start for the G-Braves. The Bats will send left-hander Ismael Guillon(0-1, 9.72) to the mound. First pitch from Louisville is set for 7:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM "The Other Side of the River" beginning at 6:35 p.m.
 
The G-Braves return to Coolray Field for a seven-game homestand starting on Monday, June 5. Game one of a three-game series vs. the Norfolk Tides begins at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.