Bethancourt HR propels G-Braves over Chiefs

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Christian Bethancourt's solo home run in the top of the 10th inning pushed the Gwinnett Braves to a 4-3 win over the Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday night in game two of the four-game series at NBT Bank Stadium.<br /> <br /> The winning shot by Bethancourt came an inning removed from a slick double-steal executed by Gwinnett to send the game to extra innings.<br /> <br /> In that top of the ninth, with the G-Braves (48-60) down 3-2, Sean Kazmar led off with a single to right and moved to second on a single by Ozzie Martinez. Jose Constanza reached on a fielder's choice that erased Martinez at second and allowed Kazmar to take third. With Todd Cunningham at the plate and one out, Constanza broke for second base. Syracuse catcher Jhonatan Solano attempted to throw out Constanza at second, but he slid in ahead of the tag. Kazmar then stole home plate, scoring the tying run to make it 3-3.<br /> <br /> That moved the game to the 10th where Bethancourt's heroics gave the G-Braves their second straight win.<br /> <br /> Gwinnett had taken the early lead in the game by scoring twice in the top of the first off Syracuse starter Aaron Laffey. Constanza led off the game with a single to left, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Solano. Cunningham singled to left, scoring Constanza for a 1-0 lead. A groundout to second by Tyler Pastornicky moved Cunningham to second, and a single to left by Joey Terdoslavich moved him to third. Bethancourt grounded out to short, pushing across Cunningham for a 2-0 lead.<br /> <br /> But in the bottom of the third, Gwinnett starter Cody Martin surrendered the lead. He gave up a one-out bunt single to Emmanuel Burris, a single to Eury Perez and a three-run home run to Steven Souza, Jr. (16).<br /> <br /> The 3-2 Syracuse lead held up until the G-Braves' rally in the top of the ninth.<br /> <br /> Martin went 5.0 innings with three hits, three earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts. Gus Schlosser worked 1.2 innings with three hits, one walk and one strikeout. James Hoyt pitched 0.2 of an inning with one hit. Atahualpa Severino (W, 4-3) picked up the win in 0.2 of an inning of relief. Juan Jaime (S, 16) got his second save in as many nights by working 0.2 of an inning with two strikeouts.<br /> <br /> Laffey went 6.0 innings with 10 hits, two earned runs and one strikeout. Daniel Stange pitched 1.0 inning with two strikeouts. Matt Grace was credited with 1.0 inning of work with one hit. Xavier Cedeno (L, 4-1) worked 2.0 innings with three hits, two earned runs and four strikeouts.<br /> <br /> Offensively for Gwinnett, Terdoslavich was 3-for-5, Kazmar was 2-for-4, Constanza and Brandon Boggs were each 2-for-5 and Bethancourt was 1-for-4 with the solo homer and two RBIs.<br /> <br /> For Syracuse (61-47) Burris was 2-for-4, Perez was 3-for-4 and Souza, Jr. was 1-for-4 with the homer and three RBIs.<br /> <br /> The Gwinnett Braves and Syracuse Chiefs will meet in game three of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon in Syracuse, first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM. Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (0-4, 6.66) is scheduled to pitch for the G-Braves, while the Chiefs will counter with right-hander Blake Treinen (6-1, 3.19). Jason Benetti will have the play by play call beginning at 12:50 PM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app. <br /> <br /> The G-Braves return to Coolray Field on Saturday, August 2 for a 7:05 PM game against the Charlotte Knights. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com to purchase.

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