LAWRENCEVILLE — Eric Young, Jr. drove in three runs and right-handed starterKanekoa Texeira notched his fourth straight quality start as the Gwinnett Braves captured a 5-2 win over the Charlotte Knights on Saturday at Coolray Field.
It was the G-Braves’ second straight victory against Charlotte, and the win put them back at the .500 mark for the fifth time in their last 17 games.
Young’s suicide squeeze bunt scored Mallex Smith to tie the game at 2-2 in the third inning. Smith had reached on a one-out single and moved to third on a single by Jose Peraza.Sean Kazmar added a single to center scoring Peraza to give Gwinnett its first lead of the night at 3-2.
The G-Braves (50-50) increased that lead to 5-2 in the seventh inning as Young flared a base hit into left-center scoring Smith and Peraza. The hit came against right-hander J.B. Wendelken, who gave up two runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one in his only inning of work for his Triple-A debut.
Texeira (W, 2-3) threw 98 pitches (60 strikes) in 6.0 innings, holding the Knights (57-45) to two runs, one earned on four hits. He retired the final eight batters he faced, turning in a quality start for the fourth-straight outing, the longest quality start streak by a G-Brave this season.
Following Texeira’s exit, right-hander David Carpenter (H, 8) threw a perfect seventh inning with one strikeout, left-hander Greg Smith (H, 3) worked around an error for a scoreless eighth and righty Carlos Fisher (S, 4) struck out two in a scoreless ninth after a leadoff double by Matt Tuiasosopo.
Gwinnett had to come from behind after it fell behind 1-0 almost immediately when the Knights plated a run on a two-out single by Matt Davidson in the first inning. Micah Johnson scored on the play after he had lined the first pitch of the game from Texeira into the right-field corner for a double.
The Knights added a second run in the next inning when a two-out walk from Texeira to Kevan Smith came around to cross home plate on a ball hit into the left-field corner by Drew Garcia. A misplay by Young in left field allowed Smith to score on the play, but Garcia was thrown out when he tried to advance to third.
A defensive error by Charlotte allowed the G-Braves to cut the 2-0 deficit in half during the bottom of the second. Cedric Hunter reached second base on a throwing error from shortstop by Garcia. He moved to third on a groundout to second base by Kazmar and scored when Christian Bethancourt hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
Charlotte right-handed starter Terance Marin (L, 3-1) completed 5.0 innings with three runs allowed (two earned) on five hits and two walks without a strikeout. Chicago White Sox’ right-handed reliever Nate Jones, who is on a Major League rehab assignment with the Knights, worked around a two-out single and stolen base by Todd Cunningham for a scoreless sixth. Left-hander Zach Phillips gave up a hit but also struck out one batter to get through the eighth.
Peraza and Cunningham both went 2-for-4 on the night. Peraza scored two runs and ran his team-best hitting streak to 13 games with his team-leading 34th multi-hit performance of the season.
The Knights got a double each from Johnson, Tuiasosopo and Garcia, but no Charlotte batter had more than a lone hit as the G-Braves out-hit the Knights 8-5.
The G-Braves will go for the sweep of the three-game series at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday at Coolray Field. Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Williams Perez (2-1, 1.36 ERA) will make his third rehab start with the Gwinnett Braves. The Knights will send right-handed starter Brad Penny (5-3, 4.09 ERA) to the mound. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Atlanta recording artist Silento will be at the ballpark for the game to perform his popular song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a Gwinnett Braves Jersey Cooler Bag courtesy of Georgia Power. The G-Braves will also host their regular “Sunday Funday” activities for fans, including Pre-Game Catch on the Field and Kids Run the Bases after the game.
Sunday is also “Christmas in July,” as kids will be able to participate in a post-game Candy Drop from a helicopter in the outfield courtesy of Blue Ridge Helicopters and Belhaven University. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office. Call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
