BUFFALO, N.Y. — Four Gwinnett pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout as the G-Braves (62-62) edged the Buffalo Bisons (57-69) by a 1-0 score on Saturday night in game two of the three-game series at Coca-Cola Field. The win was Gwinnett’s ninth shutout of the season.
The only run of the game came in the top of the first inning against Buffalo left-hander Brett Anderson. Gwinnett’s Ronald Acuna led off with a single to center to extend his hitting streak to seven games. A one-out double to right by Sean Kazmar Jr. moved Acuna to third, and a ground out to first by Rio Ruiz pushed Acuna across for a 1-0 lead and the eventual final.
Left-hander Luiz Gohara started the game, but had to leave after 4.0 innings when a ball hit by Gregorio Petit hit him in his pitching hand. The deflected ball was the final out of the inning, but Gohara was unable to return.
Gohara gave up Buffalo’s only hit of the game, a bunt single by Dwight Smith Jr. in the bottom of the first inning. Akeel Morris (W, 1-2) walked one and struck out one over 2.0 scoreless innings for the win. Atlanta’s Dan Winkler (H, 2), in his 10th rehab game with Gwinnett, went 1.0 inning with one strikeout. Phillip Pfeifer (S, 1) pitched 2.0 innings with two strikeouts for his first career Triple-A save.
Anderson (L, 0-1) tossed 4.0 innings with three hits, one earned run and one strikeout in his Bisons’ debut. Chad Girodo pitched 3.0 innings with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Chad Smith finished the game for Buffalo with 2.0 scoreless, two-hit innings.
Acuna was 2-for-4 and scored the only run of the game. Kazmar was also 2-for-4 with a double. Ruiz’s RBI was his team-leading 50th of the year.
For the Bisons, Smith was 1-for-3.
Gwinnett and Buffalo wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Manny Barreda (0-0, 3.14 ERA) will start for the G-Braves, while the Bisons will start right-hander Luis Santos (3-11, 4.20 ERA).
