LAWRENCEVILLE - A fast and furious late rally helped the Gwinnett Braves force extra innings, Tuesday night, at Coolray Field, but it turned out they were just delaying the inevitable.
The Louisville Bats scored two runs in the tenth inning, answering Gwinnett's three-run ninth and taking advantage of a third error by Gwinnett, in taking a 7-5 victory.
A bunt base hit by Louisville's Kristopher Negron with two on allowed Danny Dorn to score after a catching error by Gwinnett's Diory Hernandez.
Cristhian Martinez made his fourth start for the G-Braves, and wasn't as crisp as in past starts.
He gave up four runs on eleven hits in just five innings pitched.
The Braves offense was led by another home run from Stefan Gartell, his third in the last two games, along with a solo shot from Mauro Gomez.
Their home runs came on back to back pitches from starter Travis Wood in the fourth inning.
While Gartrell's homer was his 21st of the season, Gomez's long ball was the 100th of his career.
The game also introduced shortstop Tyler Pastornicky to Gwinnett fans, after the highly-touted prospect was promoted from Double-A Mississippi before the start of the game.
He earned his first Triple-A hit in his third at bat in the game with an infield single.
The G-Braves bats were quiet for most of the night until the ninth inning, when they plated three runs to tie the game 5-5.
But after Jose Constanza's big two-out single scored Diory Hernandez to tie the score, Wilkin Castillo was gunned down at third base, just after Hernandez's foot touched home. The putout ended the inning and ended the chances of Gwinnett winning the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Gwinnett looks to bounce back against the Louisville Bats, in game three of the four game set at Coolray Field tonight at 7:05pm.
RHP Erik Cordier (3-5, 4.03) will get the nod for Gwinnett against LHP Matt Maloney (2-1, 4.45) for the Bats.
As always, the game can be heard on the home of the G-Braves, WDUN 550 AM/102.9 FM.
Friday
April 25th, 2025
5:33PM
