SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Gwinnett Braves used a seven-run top of the seventh inning to beat the Syracuse Chiefs by an 11-8 score Saturday night in game three of the four-game series at NBT Bank Stadium.
Until the top of the seventh inning, it was a close game. The G-Braves got an RBI single fromAdonis Garcia off Syracuse starter A.J. Cole in the top of the first to go up 1-0.
Then, after the Chiefs tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second off Mike Foltynewicz, the G-Braves edged ahead 2-1 in the top of the third on a sac fly by Sean Kazmar.
But Foltynewicz allowed two runs to cross in the bottom of the third to surrender the lead at 3-2.
The G-Braves (46-47) finally tied it in the top of the sixth as Todd Cunningham led off with a double to left off reliever Bruce Billings. A groundout to second by Jose Yepez moved Cunningham to third and a high chopper to short with the infield pulled in by Daniel Castro plated Cunningham to make it 3-3.
The next time up for Gwinnett would produce one of the biggest innings of the season: seven runs on six hits with 11 men coming to the plate. It all started with a leadoff bunt single byJose Peraza, who would move to second on a sac bunt by Eric Young, Jr. Garcia walked and Kazmar followed with a single to center, scoring Peraza from third for a 4-3 lead. Cunningham was hit by a pitch by Billingsley to load the bases. Yepez then drilled an RBI single to right to raise the lead to 5-3.
The Chiefs opted for Eric Fornataro out of the bullpen and he was greeted by a double to left by Castro, scoring Kazmar and Cunningham for a 7-3 lead. An RBI single to center byMallex Smith plated Yepez to make it 8-3. Peraza then bounced an infield single to short, scoring Castro with Gwinnett’s ninth run, and when Syracuse shortstop Trea Turner threw the ball away at first, Smith came around to score for a 10-3 lead.
The G-Braves added a run in the top of the eighth on a sac fly to center by Yepez to make it 11-3.
But the Chiefs (37-58) rallied to score four runs in the bottom of the eighth off Peter Moylan to cut the lead to 11-7.
In the bottom of the ninth, with Atlanta’s Brandon Cunniff pitching on a rehab assignment, the Chiefs added another run to make it 11-8, but David Peterson entered from the bullpen and struck out Jason Martinson with a man on to end the game.
Foltynewicz pitched 5.0 innings, gave up seven hits, three earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts. Jake Brigham (W, 2-0) worked 1.0 inning with one hit and one walk.Andrew McKirahan went 0.2 of an inning with one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Moylan pitched 0.2 of an inning with four hits and four earned runs. Matt Marksberry went 0.1 of an inning with one hit. Cunniff worked 0.2 of an inning with one hit, one earned run and two walks. Peterson (S, 1) was credited with 0.1 of an inning with one strikeout.
Cole pitched 4.2 innings with six hits, two earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts. Billings went 1.2 innings with four hits, six earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Fornataro worked 1.2 innings with four hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and one strikeout. Paul Demny pitched 1.0 inning with two walks and two strikeouts.
Gwinnett’s 14-hit night was led by Peraza who was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. It was also his team-leading 32nd multi-hit game and extended his hitting streak to six games. Garcia was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Young and Yepez each were 2-for-4 with Yepez adding two RBIs.
For Syracuse, Chris Nelson went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Turner was 2-for-4 with two runs.
The G-Braves and Chiefs wrap up the four-game series Sunday afternoon in Syracuse. Right-hander Alex White (1-2, 3.71) will pitch for Gwinnett. The Chiefs will go with right-hander Taylor Jordan (3-4, 2.71). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the call beginning at 12:30 p.m. on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com
