Gwinnett loses 7-2 to RailRiders, splits four-game series

MOOSIC, PENNSYLVANIA -- On the strength of a five-run second inning, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders defeated the Gwinnett Braves 7-2 on Friday night at PNC Field. <br /> <br /> The G-Braves lost the final two games of the four-game series, settling for a split.<br /> <br /> Gwinnett (50-63) lost despite scoring a run in the top of the first inning for the second straight night. Jose Constanza greeted right-hander Bryan Mitchell with a leadoff double down the left-field line and scored three batters later on a two-out RBI single by Joey Terdoslavich.<br /> <br /> The 1-0 lead proved short-lived as right-hander Cody Martin was tagged for five runs in the second inning. Corban Joseph and Taylor Dugas each singled to put runners at the corners and Antoan Richardson tied the game with a sacrifice fly. After Jose Pirela walked and Rob Refsnyder struck out, Adonis Garcia belted a three-run home run to left-center, giving the RailRiders a 4-1 lead. Kyle Roller homered two pitches after Garcia, increasing the advantage to 5-1.<br /> <br /> The G-Braves cut the deficit to 5-2 in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout from Todd Cunningham, but Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (55-58) scored twice more on RBI singles from Pirela and John Ryan Murphy to raise the lead to 7-2.<br /> <br /> Martin (L, 6-7) lasted just 3.0 innings, exiting with five earned runs on seven hits, four walks and three strikeouts. He was replaced by right-hander Zach Stewart, who gave up an additional two runs on five hits over 2.1 innings. Left-hander Ryan Buchter and right-hander Pedro Beato combined on 2.2 scoreless, one-hit innings.<br /> <br /> Mitchell (W, 3-1) yielded two runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings, walked two and struck out six for the RailRiders. Relievers Diego Moreno and Jeremy Bleich each threw 2.0 scoreless innings to finish the game.<br /> <br /> Constanza finished 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored to lead Gwinnett. Cunningham went 1-for-5 with a double and one RBI in the losing cause.<br /> <br /> Garcia led all hitters with a 3-for-4 game including his ninth home run of the season and three RBIs.<br /> <br /> The Gwinnett Braves return home on Saturday for a brief two-game series against the Charlotte Knights. First pitch at Coolray Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (0-5, 6.46) will start for the G-Braves while the Knights will counter with right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (10-6, 3.96). The radio broadcast begins at 6:50 PM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app. The game will also be televised on WSB-TV 2.2 MeTV with broadcasters Mike Morgan, Dave Lezotte and Van Earl Wright.<br /> <br /> 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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