LAWRENCEVILLE — A five-run fourth inning for the Norfolk Tides dealt the Gwinnett Braves a blow that proved too much to overcome Tuesday in a 7-5 loss at Coolray Field.
The G-Braves were down 7-3 by the seventh inning when Atlanta Braves’ outfielder Kelly Johnson, who is on an injury rehab assignment with Gwinnett, cut the deficit in half with a two-run triple off right-handed reliever Jorge Rondon. Johnson’s liner down the right-field line scored Sean Kazmar and Jose Peraza to make it a 7-5 game.
Johnson finished the night 1-for-4 with two RBIs, and the G-Braves (28-29) managed one hit the remainder of the game.
Right-hander Dane De La Rosa (H, 1) gave up a hit and a walk with one strikeout in 1.1 innings, and righty Oliver Drake (S, 10) walked one and struck out one to close out the ninth.
G-Braves’ right-handed starter Chien-Ming Wang (L, 2-6) kept the Tides to one run on two hits through the first three innings, but the first five Norfolk batters in the fourth inning notched hits to go ahead 4-1. A single by Julio Borbon tacked on the fifth run for the Tides, and Dariel Alvarez gave them a 6-1 lead on a throwing error by Gwinnett catcher Wil Nieveswhen he tried to throw out Borbon stealing second.
Wang exited the game after 4.0 innings with six runs allowed on eight hits and one walk with one strikeout in his second consecutive loss to the Tides.
Right-handed reliever David Carpenter took over for Wang in the fifth inning and pitched the next 1.2 innings with one run allowed on two hits and a walk with one strikeout. The run was unearned because Alvarez again scored on a throwing error by Nieves that gave Norfolk a 7-3 lead in the sixth. Alvarez had led off the inning with a single, stole second and stole third when Nieves threw the ball into left field.
A trio of Gwinnett relievers, lefty Dana Eveland and right-handers Peter Moylan and Carlos Fisher, finished out the game without a hit allowed among them. Eveland went 1.2 innings with three strikeouts in his G-Braves’ debut, Moylan got the final two outs of the eighth with one strikeout and Fisher worked around a single in a scoreless ninth inning.
After the top of the fourth left the G-Braves behind 6-1, Gwinnett scored twice in the bottom of the inning to move back within three runs of the lead at 6-3. Ryan Lavarnway and Adonis Garcia led off the inning against Norfolk starter Tyler Wilson (W, 3-4). Lavarnway scored on a ground-rule double by Cedric Hunter on a ball that bounced over the right-center field fence. Garcia came around to score on a single to center field by Nieves.
The teams entered the fateful fourth inning tied 1-1 after they traded runs in the second inning. A two-out double by Michael Almanzar drove in Dariel Alvarez to put the Tides ahead 1-0, but Garcia came around to score for Gwinnett in the bottom half of the inning after a leadoff single. He crossed home plate when Nieves grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Alvarez led the charge for Norfolk with three hits in four at-bats, an RBI and three runs scored. Outfielder Chris Parmelee was the only other Tides’ batter with multiple hits. He went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Walker finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Garcia and Hunter both went 2-for-4 for Gwinnett. Garcia scored two runs, and Hunter had one RBI.
The G-Braves and Tides (33-25) will play the rubber match of their three-game series at 12:05 p.m. Wednesday at Coolray Field. Right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon (3-2, 3.26 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Gwinnett against fellow right-hander Eddie Gamboa (4-3, 3.49 ERA) of Norfolk. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday is “Belk Daycare Day” when all daycare and summer camp groups can purchase tickets for $5 with the option to buy a $5 sack lunch, all presented by Belk. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
