LOUISVILLE — Behind solid pitching from right-hander Chien-Ming Wang and the bullpen, the Gwinnett Braves defeated the Louisville Bats by a 3-1 score Wednesday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.
With the victory, Gwinnett won the series 2-1 and finished 3-4 on the seven-game road trip.
The first of the G-Braves’ runs came in the top of the first inning off Bats’ starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod. Eric Young, Jr. led off the game with a single and moved to second on a single to right by Jose Peraza. Gwinnett attempted a double steal, and Peraza was thrown out at second, but Young made it safely to third. With two outs, Adonis Garcia drilled a single to center, scoring Young for a 1-0 lead.
The Bats (32-33) quickly tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first, as with one out, Irving Falu doubled to left-center off Wang and scored on a single to center by Steve Selsky.
The G-Braves (32-33) broke the tie in the top of the sixth. Peraza lined a one-out single to center off Axelrod and moved to third on a single to left by Christian Bethancourt. Garcia nearly grounded into an inning-ending double-play to short, but beat out the throw to first base allowing Peraza to score for a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Gwinnett scored the final run as pinch hitter Eury Perez singled to left off reliever Nick Christiani, stole second, was bunted to third by Young, and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Peraza.
Wang, activated off the Gwinnett disabled list earlier in the day, pitched 4.0 innings with eight hits, one earned run, one walk and one strikeout in a no-decision. Ryan Weber (W, 2-0) went 2.0 innings with two hits and two strikeouts. Carlos Fisher (H, 2) and David Carpenter(H, 6) each turned in scoreless innings, and Ryan Kelly (S, 4) improved to 4-for-4 in save opportunities by striking out two in a scoreless ninth.
Axelrod (L, 3-5) went 6.0 innings with seven hits, two earned runs and one strikeout for Louisville. Christiani worked 1.2 innings with four hits and one earned run. Drew Hayes pitched a third of an inning and Jumbo Diaz added 1.0 inning.
For Gwinnett, Peraza finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, Garcia was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Bethancourt was 2-for-4. Young went 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Perez went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter and recorded his International League-leading 28th stolen base.
The Bats were led by Selsky who was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Josh Satin and Jose Constanza both went 3-for-4.
After an off-day on Thursday, the Gwinnett Braves return home to Coolray Field on Friday to begin a seven-game homestand. Game one of a three-game series against the Pawtucket Red Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, begins at 7:05 p.m. Gwinnett’s starter has yet to be announced, while the Red Sox will start left-hander Brian Johnson (7-4, 2.51). Dave Lezotte has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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