ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Gwinnett Braves rode the pitching of starter Yunesky Maya and the long-ball on offense to beat the Rochester Red Wings by a 6-1 score Monday night in the finale of the four game series at Frontier Field.<br />
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Both teams got off to slow starts, as Maya and Rochester starter Alex Meyer tossed four scoreless innings. But in the top of the fifth, Gwinnett (30-26) finally broke through.<br />
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Ozzie Martinez began the inning with a single to left and Jose Constanza followed with a double down the left field line. Red Wings left fielder Chris Rahl misplayed the ball in left, allowing Martinez to score the first run of the game and moving Constanza to third. Phil Gosselin was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and third with one out, setting the stage for the G-Braves first baseman. Mark Hamilton (4) then cleared the bases with a long three-run homerun to right to push the G-Braves lead to 4-0.<br />
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The Gwinnett lead grew in the top of the eighth against Rochester reliever Deolis Guerra. Christian Bethancourt began the inning with a single to left-center and Brandon Boggs (2) followed with a two-run homer to right, extending the lead to 6-0.<br />
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The only Rochester run came in the bottom of the ninth against reliever Pedro Beato. Brad Nelson (2) led off with a solo homer to center, cutting the lead to 6-1. However, the right-hander settled down to finish off the game.<br />
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Maya (2-0) worked 7.0 stellar innings with five hits, no runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. Ryan Buchter worked 1.0 inning with two hits and one strikeout. Beato pitched the bottom of the ninth with one hit, one earned run, one walk and one strikeout.<br />
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Meyer (3-2) went 5.0 innings with seven hits, four earned runs, one walk and five strikeouts. Edgar Ibarra worked 2.0 innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Guerra pitched 1.0 inning with two hits, two earned runs and one strikeout. Michael Tonkin worked the top of the ninth with two hits and one strikeout.<br />
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Offensively, Tyler Pastornicky led Gwinnett with a 2-for-5 night, while Bethancourt went 2-for-4 with a run and Hamilton went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer. Boggs finished 1-for-4 with a two-run homer.<br />
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For Rochester (31-25), Nelson was 2-for-4 with a solo homerun and Deibinson Romero was also 2-for-4.<br />
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The G-Braves return to Coolray Field Tuesday night to begin an eight game homestand with the first of a four game series against the Columbus Clippers. RHP Zach Stewart (3-2, 4.03) will start for Gwinnett. The Clippers will pitch RHP Gabriel Arias (0-2, 5.73). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Tony Schiavone will have the play-by-play call beginning at 6:20 p.m. on wdun.com, gwinnettbraves.com, Tune-In Radio and MiLB First Pitch.
