BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Gwinnett Braves, for the fourth straight game, scored the winning run in their last at-bat and edged the Buffalo Bisons by a 2-1 score on Saturday night in game three of the four-game series at Coca-Cola Field.
Gwinnett's decisive run came in the top of the ninth. With one out, George Kottaras doubled to right off Buffalo reliever Ben Rowen and was replaced at second by pinch runner Matt Lipka. Rio Ruiz then stroked a single to right, scoring Lipka to break a 1-1 tie.
The bottom of the ninth had plenty of drama as well. Jose Ramirez allowed a leadoff double to Domonic Brown, and after one out, was replaced by Matt Marksberry. Marksberry got pinch hitter Matt Dominguez to pop out to right for the second out. Maikel Cleto was then called out of the bullpen to face A.J. Jimenez.
Jimenez hit a ground ball to second baseman Omar Infante, but he beat the throw to first. Brown rounded third and tried to score the tying run on the play, but first baseman Reid Brignac threw home to catcher Michael McKenry, who tagged out Brown for the final out.
Gwinnett (45-56) had scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth as McKenry doubled and scored on a ground out from Emilio Bonifacio.
The Bisons (52-49) tied the game in the bottom of the eighth as Brown doubled off Ramirez, moved to second on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Dalton Pompey.
Former Bisons' right-hander Roberto Hernandez started for Gwinnett and pitched 5.0 scoreless, five-hit innings in a no-decision. Ryan Weber worked 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Ramirez (BS, 4, W, 3-2) went 1.1 inning with four hits, one earned run and one strikeout. Marksberry (H, 6) pitched a scoreless third of an inning. Cleto (S, 2) also pitched a scoreless third of an inning with one hit.
Right-hander Drew Hutchison started for Buffalo and lasted 6.0 innings with four hits, one earned run, two walks and four strikeouts. Chad Giordo worked 1.2 innings with one hit allowed. Rowen (L, 0-4) went 1.1 innings with two hits, one earned run and one strikeout.
At the plate for the G-Braves, Mel Rojas, Jr. was 2-for-4. Kottaras and McKenry were each 1-for-3. McKenry scored once.
For the Bisons, Jimenez was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Brown was 2-for-4 with two doubles.
The G-Braves and Bisons meet in the finale of four-game series on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field. Right-hander Casey Kelly (2-6, 3.95) will start for Gwinnett, while Buffalo will counter with right-hander Wilmer Font (1-2, 5.28). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone will have the broadcast of the game beginning at 12:35 p.m. on 97.7 FM.
