G-Braves rally to top RailRiders

MOOSIC, PENSSYLVANIA -- The Gwinnett Braves rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth, and held off the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders by a 6-5 score in the opening game of the four game series at PNC Field on Tuesday night.<br /> <br /> Gwinnett (49-61) entered the ninth inning trailing 4-3, but Edward Salcedo led off against SWB reliever Diego Moreno with a single to left and was bunted to second by Sean Kazmar. An infield single by Jose Constanza moved Salcedo to third, and Tyler Pastornicky followed with a double to right, scoring both for a 5-4 lead. Joey Terdoslavich capped the scoring with an RBI single to left-center, scoring Pastornicky to increase the lead to 6-4.<br /> <br /> The final run by the G-Braves in the top of the ninth proved to be key as the RailRiders made a comeback of their own. With Pedro Beato on the mound and two outs, Antoan Richardson walked and moved to third on a pinch-hit single to right by Corbin Joseph. Jose Pirela singled to right, scoring Richardson and cutting the Gwinnett lead to 6-5. However, Beato struck out Robert Refsnyder to preserve the win.<br /> <br /> Gwinnett got off to a great start, getting an early lead with two runs in the top of the first off of SWB starter Nik Turley. Constanza walked to lead off the game and stole second base. Pastornicky delivered a single to left, scoring Constanza for a 1-0 lead. Todd Cunningham bunted Pastornicky to second and Terdoslavich singled to left, scoring Pastornicky ffor a 2-0 lead. <br /> <br /> However, the RailRiders tied the game off of Gwinnett starter Kanekoa Texeira in the bottom half of the frame. Pirela tripled to lead off the half inning and scored on a single to right by Refsnyder to cut the lead to 2-1. Kyle Roller then smacked a one-out single to right and Austin Romine walked to load the bases. John Ryan Murphy struck a sac fly to center, scoring Refsnyder to tie the game at 2-2.<br /> <br /> Gwinnett took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth as Christian Bethancourt led off with a single to center and scored on a single to left by Brandon Boggs.<br /> <br /> But the G-Braves surrendered the lead in a bizarre bottom of the seventh. Romine led off with a single to right off of reliever Carlos Fisher and moved to third with two outs, as Richardson bounced a single over the head of Terdoslavich and into right field. The RailRiders then executed a double-steal as Richardson stole second and Romine beat the throw home for a 3-3 tie. The throw by Pastornicky got by Bethancourt, enabling Richardson to take third. With Carmen Angelini batting, a pitch by Fisher bounced off the ground and knocked the mask off of catcher Bethancourt. The ball fell into the mask and Richardson was awarded home. The play was scored an error on Bethancourt and gave SWB the 4-3 lead.<br /> <br /> After a scoreless eighth inning, the Braves began their comeback. And beat the RailRiders for the first time this season.<br /> <br /> Texeira worked 6.0 innings with four hits, two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. Fisher went 1.0 inning with two hits, two runs (one earned) and two strikeouts. Zach Stewart (W, 5-3), just off the disabled list, picked up the win by going 1.0 scoreless inning with three hits. Beato (S, 4) pitched 1.0 inning with two hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.<br /> <br /> Turley pitched 5.1 innings for the RailRiders. He allowed six hits, three earned runs, two walks and struck out two. Pat Venditte went 2.1 innings with one hit and one walk. Moreno (L, 2-3) with 1.1 innings, four hits, three earned runs and one strikeout.<br /> <br /> Pastornicky led the G-Braves offense with a 4-for-5 night and three RBIs. Terdoslavich was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.<br /> <br /> For the RailRiders, Pirela was 3-for-5; Refsnyder and Roller were each 2-for-4.<br /> <br /> The G-Braves and the RailRiders will meet in game tw0 of the four game series Wednesday afternoon. RHP Gus Schlosser (6-5, 3.58) is scheduled to pitch for the Braves. SWB will go with LHP Matt Tracy (1-3, 3.76). First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone will have the play by play call beginning at 11:50 a.m. on wdun.com, gwinnettbraves.com, Tune-In Radio and MiLB First Pitch.

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