Gwinnett Scores Early to Beat Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Gwinnett Braves (35-44) scored single runs in the first two innings and held off the Indianapolis Indians (41-37) by a 2-1 score Tuesday night in game two of the three-game series at Victory Field.
The first run, off Indianapolis starter Trevor Williams, came on a sacrifice fly to right by Anthony Recker, scoring Ozzie Albies from third who had led off the game with a walk, stole second base and moved to third on an infield single by Mel Rojas, Jr.
In the top of the second, with one out, Ronnier Mustelier singled to right off Williams and scored from first on a double down the right field line by Blake Lalli.
In the bottom of the third, Alan Hanson hit his fifth home run of the season, taking Gwinnett starter Chris Ellis deep to right, cutting the lead to 2-1. But that would end the scoring for the game, as the Ellis and Gwinnett bullpen combined for 6.2 scoreless innings the rest of the way.
However, the game would still have some close moments. In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians loaded the bases with one out off G-Braves' reliever Stephen Janas, but he got Danny Oritz to ground into a 3-6 double play turned by Lalli and Reid Brignac to end the inning.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, Hanson led off by reaching first on a fielding error by G-Braves reliever Jose Ramirez. After Ramirez retired the next two batters, he apparently had coaxed Josh Bell into a ground ball to second to end the game. But the throw from Albies to first to pulled Emerson Landoni off the bag and the Indians suddenly had the tying run on second and the winning run on first thanks to two Gwinnett errors. But Ramirez then got pinch-hitter Austin Meadows to ground out to second to end the game.
Ellis went 4.1 innings for Gwinnett, surrendering four hits and one earned run while walking six and striking out six. Janas (W, 2-0) went 2.2 innings while allowing just one hits and one walk while striking out a pair before Kanekoa Texeira (H, 4) replaced Janas in the eighth and struck out two over a scoreless frame. Ramirez (S, 3) worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth for his first save since June 8th.
Williams (L, 2-4) allowed four hits and two runs over 6.0 innings, while walking one and striking out six. Justin Masterson (1.0 inning) and Kyle Lobstein (2.0 innings) finished it up for Indianapolis, striking out four in three innings.
Offensively, Albies and Mustelier were each 1-for-3 with a run for the G-Braves, while Lalli and Recker were each 1-for-3 with an RBI. Recker extended his on-base streak to 15 games and Rio Ruiz went 0-for-4 and saw his 17-game on-base streak come to an end.
For the Indians, Hanson was 1-for-3 with a solo homer.
The finale of the three-game series between the G-Braves and Indians is set for Wednesday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. at Victory Field. Right-hander Aaron Blair (3-0, 1.64) is scheduled for the G-Braves and the Indians will go with righty Frank Duncan (4-3, 2.80). Tony Schiavone has the call of the action beginning at 1:05 p.m. on 97.7 FM.
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The Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Follow the G-Braves at GwinnettBraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets