NORFOLK, VIRGINIA -- Behind the clutch hitting of Todd Cunningham, the Gwinnett Braves (5-8) edged the Norfolk Tides (8-6) by a 3-2 score Wednesday in game three of their four-game series at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Va.
Cunningham drove in all three runs for the G-Braves, which twice erased one-run Norfolk leads for their second straight win.
The Tides struck in the bottom of the first, as leadoff batter Noland Reimold singled off of Gwinnett right-handed starter Williams Perez (W, 1-0) and moved to second as the ball was misplayed in center by Joe Benson. Steve Clevenger grounded out to second, moving Reimold to third, and Chris Parmelee plated Reimold with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 1-0 lead.
That score held up until the top of the sixth when G-Braves designated hitter Eury Perez hit a one-out double to left off of Norfolk starter Zach Davies. Cunningham then drilled a two-out triple down the first-base line, scoring Perez to knot the game at 1-1.
Williams Perez had retired 10 batters in a row heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, but his first pitch in that half inning was crushed to left field by Dariel Alvarez for a solo homer that gave the Tides a 2-1 lead.
The decisive inning was the top of the eighth for Gwinnett. With Norfolk left-handed reliever Chris Jones (L, 0-1) pitching, Adonis Garcia led off with a pinch-hit double to left. Eury Perez was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt to put two runners on base with no outs. Jose Peraza then loaded the bases with a bunt single, and Cunningham followed with his third hit of the game, a bouncing single to left that scored Garcia and Eury Perez and gave Gwinnett a 3-2 lead.
That advantage held up as the final score thanks to another strong outing from the G-Braves bullpen.
Williams Perez was solid through 7.0 innings for his first win of the season. He gave up six hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out five. John Cornely (H, 1) went 0.2 of an inning with two strikeouts. Donnie Veal (H, 4) worked 0.1 of an inning with one hit allowed, and Aaron Kurcz (S, 3) picked up his second save in as many nights by pitching a scoreless ninth inning with one hit given up and two strikeouts.
Davies had a fine start for the Tides. He went 6.0 innings with four hits and one earned run allowed with one walk and five strikeouts. Jones pitched 1.0 inning with four hits, two earned runs and one walk. Former G-Braves right-handed reliever Pedro Beato finished the game for Norfolk by going 2.0 innings with two hits.
Cunningham was 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Gwinnett offensive attack. Peraza went 2-for-5, giving him a three-game hitting streak in which he has batted .538 (7-for-13) with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases.
Clevenger and Alvarez were each 2-for-4 at the plate for Norfolk.
The G-Braves and Tides conclude the four-game series Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park. Right-hander Matt Wisler (0-1, 3.72 ERA) gets the start for Gwinnett. The Norfolk Tides will start RHP Eddie Gamboa (0-1, 6.30 ERA). First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Gwinnett’s next home game is April 27 at 6:35 p.m. against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
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