G-Braves’ four-game winning streak comes to an end

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Knights (67-63) held off a ninth-inning rally by the Gwinnett Braves (70-69), who came up one run short in a 3-2 loss on Monday night in the opener of the three-game series at BB&T Ballpark.
 
The loss ended the G-Braves’ four-game win streak and dropped them to 2.5 games behind the Columbus Clippers in the International League Wild Card standings, as the Clippers edged the Toledo Mud Hens 6-5.  The G-Braves are also 3.0 games in back of the idle first-place Norfolk Tides in the IL South Division.
 
Gwinnett struck first with a two-out rally in the top of the third off of Charlotte right-handed starter Scott Carroll.  With the bases empty, Jose Yepez walked and moved to second on an infield single by Mallex Smith.  Todd Cunningham continued his hot hitting with a single to right that scored Yepez from second for a 1-0 lead. 
 
But G-Braves right-handed starter Jake Brigham could not hold the lead in the bottom of the third. Drew Garcia and Leury Garcia struck back-to-back singles, and Dayan Viciedo drew a two-out walk to load the bases.  Matt Davidson followed with a double to left field, scoring both Drew and Leury Garcia to edge ahead 2-1.  Rob Brantly then singled to right, scoring Viciedo for a 3-1 advantage.  Davidson also tried to score on the play but was tagged out between third base and home plate to end the inning.
 
The G-Braves scored a final run in the top of the ninth against Charlotte right-handed reliever Junior Guerra.  Sean Kazmar singled to left with two outs, moved to second on defensive indifference and scored when Daniel Castro doubled off the wall in left to make it 3-2.  Castro moved to second on a wild pitch, but Guerra got Jordan Lennerton to line out to right field to end the game.
 
Brigham (L, 3-1) went 5.0 innings with seven hits, three earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts.  Right-hander Vin Mazzaro worked 2.0 innings with one walk and four strikeouts.  Righty Carlos Fisher pitched 1.0 inning with one hit and one strikeout.
 
Carroll (W, 6-4) went 7.0 innings with five hits, one earned run, three walks and four strikeouts.  Guerra (S, 6) worked 2.0 innings with two hits, one earned run and two strikeouts.
 
Kazmar led the Gwinnett attack with a 2-for-4 night with a double and a run scored.  Cedric Hunter now has an 18-game hitting streak after a 1-for-4 night.  Cunningham was 1-for-4 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to five games.
 
Leury Garcia paced Charlotte with a 2-for-4 night and a run scored.
 
The G-Braves and Knights square off in game two of the three-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday at BB&T Ballpark.  Right-hander Ryan Weber (4-2, 2.04 ERA) will start for Gwinnett.  The Knights will send right-hander and the league ERA leader Erik Johnson (10-8, 2.38 ERA) to the mound.