ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A one-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning by Brian Bogusevic lifted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win Friday night over the Gwinnett Braves in game one of the three-game series at Coca-Cola Park.
The winning hit off of G-Braves closer Aaron Kurcz capped a wild ninth inning that saw Gwinnett come back from a 2-0 deficit to take the lead in the top half of the frame.
The IronPigs (9-20) headed to the top of the ninth with that two-run lead thanks to a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth by Maikel Franco off of Gwinnett left-handed starter Manny Banuelos, and a run-scoring double in the bottom of the eighth by Russ Canzler off of G-Braves right-handed reliever John Cornely.
However, Gwinnett mounted a big comeback in the top of the ninth. With Lehigh Valley right-handed reliever Hector Neris on the mound, Todd Cunningham led off with a double to right. Adonis Garcia singled to left, moving Cunningham to third. Cedric Hunter followed with single to right that scored Cunningham to cut the lead to 2-1. After a sacrifice bunt by Barrett Kleinknecht moved runners to second and third, the IronPigs opted to bring in right-hander Colton Murray out of the bullpen.
Murray’s first pitch to Daniel Castro was wild and to the backstop, which allowed Garcia to score the tying run from third. Hunter, who moved to third on the play, would then score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left by Castro.
The G-Braves (13-15) brought in Kurcz to begin the bottom of the ninth. After getting the first batter out, he gave up a single to right field to Jordan Danks. Edgar Duran hit a ball to first that went off the glove of Kleinknecht, putting runners on the corners. Bogusevic followed with the game-winning hit on the first pitch by Kurcz, a double off the wall in right-center field to drive in both Danks and Duran for the come-from-behind win.
Banuelos pitched 6.0 innings in his sixth start of the season. He allowed seven hits and one earned run while walking one and striking out six. Cornely went 2.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts. Kurcz (BS, 2; L, 0-2) was credited with 0.1 of an inning with two hit and two runs (one earned).
For the IronPigs, right-handed starter Phillippe Aumont pitched 6.0 scoreless innings in his third start of the season. He allowed two hits, walked three and struck out two. Right-hander Tyler Knigge (H, 3) went 1.0 inning, lefty Cesar Jimenez (H, 4) went 1.0 with one strikeout and Neris (H, 1) went 0.1 of an inning with three hits and three earned runs. Murray (BS, 2; W, 1-1) picked up the win by getting the final two outs in the top of the ninth.
Gwinnett was led offensively by Garcia and Hunter, who each were 2-for-4 with a run. Hunter added an RBI. Garcia’s two-hit night extended his hitting streak to eight games. Jose Peraza was 0-for-4 and Kleinknecht was 0-for-3, ending each player’ hitting streak at six games.
For Lehigh Valley, Franco was 3-for-4 with a solo homer. Canzler was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Cord Phelps was 2-for-4, and Bogusevic went 2-for-4 with his two game-winning RBIs.
The G-Braves and IronPigs will continue their three-game series Saturday night in Allentown. Left-hander Greg Smith (1-1, 3.00) will be on the mound for Gwinnett. The IronPigs will start left-hander Adam Morgan (0-3, 3.90). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Gwinnett’s next home game is May 11 at 6:35 p.m. against the Syracuse Chiefs. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
