LAWRENCEVILLE – The first run right-handed reliever Carlos Fisher allowed this season turned out to be the deciding tally in the Gwinnett Braves’ 3-1 loss to the Louisville Bats Saturday at Coolray Field.
Fisher (L, 0-1) had pitched 9 1/3 scoreless innings to start the season before Ryan LaMarre stroked a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Eugenio Suarez.
Suarez had led off the inning with a single to left field, stole second base and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Dominguez. The Bats’ shortstop also drove in the final run with a single to left field in the ninth against right-hander Mitchell Boggs.
Meanwhile, the Bats’ bullpen was nearly perfect. Right-handed relievers Sam LeCure (W, 1-2), Nick Christiani (H, 2) and Nate Adcock (S, 7) combined to hold the G-Braves (16-20) to two baserunners after the sixth inning. Each went 1.0 inning, as LeCure set Gwinnett down in order in the seventh inning and Christiani did the same in the eighth. Adcock yielded a pair of singles in the ninth but also notched the trio’s only two strikeouts.
Left-handed reliever Ian Thomas kept the G-Braves in position to take a lead with three scoreless innings during which he allowed nothing more than a single to Suarez. His six strikeouts were the most by a G-Braves’ reliever in a single appearance since left-hander Ryan Buchter also fanned six in 2.0 innings on July 12, 2013 at Durham.
Thomas logged all six of his strikeouts in consecutive at-bats, helping keep the game tied at 1-1.
Gwinnett’s only run of the game came in the second inning. Sean Kazmar led off the frame with a single to center field to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, breaking a tie with Adonis Garcia for the longest streak on the team this season. Cedric Hunter then doubled down the right-field line to score Kazmar from first base and tie the game.
Kazmar also singled in the fourth and tripled in the sixth as part of a 3-for-4 night, but the G-Braves could not drive him home either time with Bats’ right-handed starter Dylan Axelrod on the mound. Axelrod went 6.0 innings with one run allowed on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
Louisville’s (16-20) first run of the game came on a double play grounder hit by former G-Brave Jose Constanza. LaMarre scored on the play after he led off the frame with a single and stole second base.
That was the only run allowed by right-handed starter Kanekoa Texeira. He worked 4.0 innings with five hits, three walks (one intentional) and three strikeouts over 70 pitches in his first start of the season. It was his first appearance since his return from a stint on the disabled list with a strained lower back that lasted from April 17 to May 15.
Suarez finished 3-for-4 and scored the game-deciding run for the second consecutive night. His three-run home run in the ninth inning Friday led Louisville to a 5-4 win in the series opener.
The G-Braves will conclude their homestand with a 2:05 p.m. game Sunday vs. the Bats at Coolray Field. Right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon (2-1, 1.96 ERA) will get the start for Gwinnett against fellow righty Donovan Hand (0-1, 3.06 ERA) of Louisville. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The series finale is also a “Sunday Funday.” Fans will have the chance to participate in Pre-Game Catch on the Field for the first 20 minutes after the gates open, and following the game is the Post-Game Kids Base Run for all kids ages 12 and under. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
