G-Braves rally to beat Tides

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA -- Run-scoring singles by Phil Gosselin and Christian Bethancourt in the top of the eighth inning propelled the Gwinnett Braves to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Norfolk Tides in game two of the three-game series on Wednesday night at Harbor Park.

The Tides (1-5) had led the entire game prior to the duo's heroics. With Gwinnett trailing 3-2 in the eighth, Joey Terdoslavich drew a leadoff walk from reliever Kelvin De La Cruz. Derrick Mitchell came in to pinch run for Terdoslavich.

With Brock Huntzinger now pitching, Ernesto Mejia followed with a fly-out to shallow right, but Norfolk right fielder Henry Urrutia committed a throwing error as he tried to double up Mitchell at first base. The wild throw allowed Mitchell to safely advance to second. A Huntzinger wild pitch moved Mitchell to third, and he scored the tying run on a single to left by Gosselin. Edward Salcedo singled to right pushing Gosselin to second, and Bethancourt sent a bloop single to right, plating Gosselin with the eventual winning run.

The Tides got on the board in the bottom of the first inning against Gwinnett starter Zach Stewart. Julio Borbon led off with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout to second by Urrutia for a 1-0 lead.

The G-Braves (4-2) tied the game in the top of the second as Gosselin reached on an fielding error by Norfolk starting pitcher Mike Wright, moved to second on a single by Salcedo, to third as Mark Hamilton hit into a double play and scored the tying run as Bethancourt singled to left.

Norfolk went up 2-1 in the bottom of the second as with the bases loaded and no outs, Brett Wallace scored from third when David Adams hit into a 4-6-3 double play. The Tides then edged ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth as Adams (1) hit a solo home run to left off Stewart.

Gwinnett cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth as Salcedo slammed a two out single to center off Norfolk reliever Tim Alderson, stole second and scored on a double to left-center by Hamilton. That set the stage for the decisive top of the eighth.

Stewart worked 5.0 innings in his first career start as a G-Brave. He gave up three earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out one. Yunesky Maya worked 1.0 inning with one hit and one strikeout. Luis Vasquez (W, 1-0) picked up his first win of the season by pitching a scoreless bottom of the seventh with one strikeout. Wirfin Obispo worked a scoreless eighth with one hit and one strikeout, and Juan Jamie (S, 2) notched his second save in as many tries with a scoreless, hitless bottom of the ninth with one walk and two strikeouts.

Wright pitched 5.0 strong innings for the Tides. He allowed five hits and one unearned run with one walk and four strikeouts. Alderson went 1.1 innings with two hits, one earned run and two strikeouts. De La Cruz was credited for 0.2 of an inning with one earned run and one walk. Huntzinger (L, 0-1) worked 2.0 innings and was tagged with the loss. He gave up three hits with one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.

At the plate, Bethancourt had his first multi-hit night as a G-Brave. He went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Salcedo was also 3-for-4, and Gosselin was 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games.

For Norfolk, Adams' homer was his only hit in four at bats, and his first hit of the season.

The G-Braves and Tides wrap up the series in Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, first pitch set for 12:05 PM. RHP Cody Martin (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will make his first start of the year for Gwinnett. The Tides will start RHP Kevin Gausman (0-0, 0.00). Tony Schiavone will have the play-by-play call beginning at 11:50 AM on wdun.com, TuneIn Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app.