Poveda pitches Gwinnett past Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY -- Omar Poveda turned in another fine performance for the Gwinnett Braves (10-11), pitching into the eighth inning and leading the G-Braves to 7-3 win over the Louisville Bats (10-10) on Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Stadium.

Poveda (W, 2-0) proved dominant, hurling his third quality start in four tries for Gwinnett this season. But it was that bats that got it going early.

In the top of the third, with one out in a scoreless game, second baseman Corey Wimberly doubled to right off of Louisville pitcher Daniel Corcino (L, 0-4) and moved to third on a ground out to second by centerfielder Todd Cunningham.
First baseman Ernesto Mejia singled to left, scoring Wimberly to make it 1-0. Rightfielder Joey Terdoslavich followed with a single to right. After a walk to Joe Leonard loaded the bases, catcher Matt Pagnozzi came through with a bases-clearing triple to push the lead to 4-0.

In the top of the fourth, with Corcino still on the mound, leftfielder Jose Constanza extended his hitting streak to six games with a one out triple to right-center. Wimberly smacked his second double of the game to right, scoring Constanza from third to make it 5-0. Cunningham followed with his first-ever Triple-A homerun, a two-run shot to right, making 7-0 G-Braves.

The Bats picked up their first run in the bottom of the fifth, but made things real interesting in the ninth inning. In the last frame, the Bats first three hitters reached to load the bases with nobody out. After a pop out, Josh Fellhauer drove in the first run with a fielder's choice, cutting the lead to 7-2. Nevin Ashley singled to right, making it 7-3. The G-Braves were forced to summands Cory Rasmus (S, 3) from the pen, and the righty delivered with a game-ending fly out, collecting the save.

Poveda picked up the victory, working 7.2 innings, giving up four hits and one earned run. He walked two and struck out four.

Corcino suffered the loss in relief. He went 2.1 innings, giving up eight hits and seven earned runs. He walked one and struck out two. Cincinnati Reds left-hander Sean Marshall, in his second rehab duty, started the game and worked a scoreless first with two strikeouts.

Wimberly led the offense with a 3-for-5 night, while Cunningham and Terdoslavich each had two hits. Pagnozzi had three RBI.

Shortstop Emmanuel Burriss was the only Louisville player with more than one hit as he was 2-for-4.

Game three of the four game series in Louisville is set for Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. LHP Daniel Rodriguez (1-1, 8.76) will get the start for Gwinnett. The Bats will pitch RHP Chad Reineke (3-0, 0.61). Tony Schiavone will have the call on WDUN AM 550/FM 102.9.