G-Braves use explosive seventh to vault past Knights

LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Gwinnett Braves beat the Charlotte Knights 9-5 on Tuesday night in the second game of their final homestand of the season at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.

Gwinnett blew up for seven runs in the seventh inning to clinch the win. The G-Braves (64-66) remain 19.0 games behind International League South leaders Durham (clinched division already) in second place, and 1.5 games in front of third place Charlotte (63-68). Gwinnett also moved 8.5 games back of Wild Card leaders Columbus.

Troy Glaus, on an MLB rehab for the Atlanta Braves, washed away a night of bad G-Braves defense with one swing of the bat, blasting a seventh-inning, three-run home run that vaulted the squad into the lead for the first time in the game at 6-5. Gwinnett poured on three more runs in the inning and cruised from there, despite committing four errors on the night.

Starting pitcher Brandon Beachy went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs, but only one was earned, due to a trio of fourth inning errors. Beachy struck out six batters versus just two walks. Cory Gearrin (3-5) came on in relief to earn the win, working 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.

Glaus, starting at third base for the second straight night since beginning his stint in Gwinnett, finished 2-for-4 with the home run (1) and 3 RBIs (3). Second baseman Joe Thurston went 2-for-4 with an RBI (61), tying a season-best mark (also held by DH Barbaro Canizares) with an RBI in five consecutive games. Right fielder Wilkin Ramirez also was 1-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs (24).

Gwinnett continues its final homestand of the season with the final contest of a three game series against the Charlotte Knights at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday night. The G-Braves will send LHP Scott Diamond (2-0, 2.37 ERA) to the mound against RHP Lucas Harrell (10-10, 4.58 ERA) for the Knights. The game will be broadcast on the radio at WDUN-550 AM and on TV at CSS.

-- NOTES: Tomorrow night's game is the final Webkinz giveaway of the season, where the first 750 fans 12 & under will receive a stuffed version of every Georgian's favorite kind of "Dawg" - a bulldog. It's also "Mascot Mania," which will feature your favorite mascots from the Atlanta-area sports teams taking over Coolray Field for a night filled with fun and surprises.