LAWRENCEVILLE — Joey Terdoslavich hit a long two-run home run in the first inning and had a hand in all four runs scored by the Gwinnett Bravesin a 4-2 victory over the Louisville Bats on Friday at Coolray Field.
The G-Braves (68-58) remain 3.5 games behind Columbus in the International League Wild Card standings as the Clippers beat Norfolk 4-3 on Friday. However, that loss by the Tides pulled second-place Gwinnett to within 4.0 games of the lead in the IL South Division.
Terdoslavich’s homer (3) traveled 459 feet to right field off Louisville (60-67) right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen (L, 3-2). It also scored Hector Olivera, who had reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Mallex Smith at third base. Olivera went 1-for-4 with the run scored in his second game with the G-Braves.
Gwinnett added two more runs on rallies that started on walks to Terdoslavich. He drew a one-out free pass from Lorenzen in the sixth inning and scored on a single by Christian Bethancourt that put the G-Braves in front 3-2. Terdoslavich also led off the eighth with a walk and came home on a double to left-center by Sean Kazmar to make it 4-2.
Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira held Louisville to one hit through the first four innings of his start, but a leadoff walk to Chris Berset in the fifth came back to bite him. Berset scored on a groundout to second base by Hernan Iribarren for the Bats’ first run of the night.
A walk to Adam Duvall in the sixth also came around to score and tie the game at 2-2 when Bryson Smith singled him home on a line single to right field. That hit ended Texeira’s night with one out in the inning and runners on the corners. Right-handed reliever Vin Mazzaro (W, 1-0) retired both batters he faced to extinguish the threat.
With a no-decision for the first time since July 12, Texeira saw his streak of six straight starts with a win – a Gwinnett club record – come to an end. He allowed two runs on four hits and five walks over 5.1 innings, striking out two in an 87-pitch, 50-strike outing.
Mazzaro escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and recorded an out in the eighth, completing 2.0 innings of work with one hit and two walks. Right-hander David Peterson (H, 4) came in and threw four pitches to get two outs in the eighth. Right-hander Carlos Fisher (S, 5) walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, but retired the next three in order to end the game.
Lorenzen lasted 7.0 innings for Louisville but gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Right-hander Dylan Axelrod yielded the final run of the night in an eighth inning that included a hit, a walk and two strikeouts.
Terdoslavich paced the G-Braves’ offense by going 1-for-2 with the homer, two walks, two RBIs and three runs scored. Kazmar went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Cedric Hunter went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a team-best 15 games.
Smith was the lone Louisville batter with more than a single hit, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gwinnett pitchers held the Bats to five hits, none for extra bases.
The G-Braves and Bats will play game three of their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday at Coolray Field. Gwinnett will start right-hander Victor Mateo (1-2, 6.27 ERA), while Louisville will counter with right-hander Donn Roach (2-3, 5.20 ERA). Dave Lezotte has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, fans will receive “Who I Fight For” placards when they enter the stadium as part of “Stand Up to Cancer Night.” They can personalize those signs at Fifth Third Bank tables on the concourse. Placards will be held up for a moment of silence during the game. Fifth Third Bank will also donate $1 to cancer research for every tweet that includes #howifight @FifthThird and @SU2C. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
Wednesday
January 22nd, 2025
3:01PM
