Gwinnett wins again, stays second in division

LAWRENCEVILLE -- First place remained tantalizingly out of reach Wednesday, but with the way the Gwinnett Braves have been playing of late it seems more of a matter of when not if the G-Braves will jump into the lead in the International League's South Division.

Gwinnett moved to 41-33 overall -- just a half-game behind division-leading Norfolk -- courtesy a 7-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons at Gwinnett Stadium in Lawrenceville.

The G‐Braves’ 41 wins are tied with Scranton/Wilkes‐Barre for the most
in the International League.

Buffalo third baseman Mike Lamb got the Bisons on the scoreboard first with a two‐out, two‐run double in the top of the first. But Atlanta Braves’ rehab Greg Norton got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first when he plated Reid Gorecki with his RBI single to right. Gorecki’s run made it a 2‐1 game.

Gorecki led‐off the third inning with a triple to left field and Wes Timmons followed with a walk. With runners on the corners, Norton drove in Gorecki again with a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at two. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and two out, newcomer Chris Burke singled home Wes Timmons for the go‐ahead run of the game. On the next play, Barbaro Canizares came in to score on a Clint Sammons’ groundout to give Gwinnett a 4‐2 lead.

Gwinnett got three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead to 7‐2. Starter Todd Redmond drew a one‐out walk and Gorecki followed with a single to left. Wes Timmons then reached on a force‐attempt fielding error by Bisons’ shortstop Javier Castillo. Redmond scampered home on a passed ball for the G‐Braves’ fifth run of the game. Norton hit into a fielders choice that
scored Gorecki for a 6‐2 lead. Canizares followed that with an RBI‐single that scored Timmons to put Gwinnett up 7‐2.

In the top of the ninth, Bisons left fielder Jesus Feliciano singled home Luis Rivera to make it a 7‐3 game. But Gwinnett reliever Vladimir Nunez shut the door on Buffalo’s late rally.

Gwinnett starter Todd Redmond allowed just two runs in seven strong innings to earn his fourth win of the season. Redmond is now 4‐6 with a 4.94 ERA.

Reid Gorecki, Greg Norton, Barbaro Canizares and Chris Burke each collected two hits on the night with Norton driving in three of the seven Gwinnett runs. Wes Timmons, who was 1‐for‐4, extended his on‐base streak to 21 games with his third‐inning walk.

Buffalo starter Tobi Stoner was charged with his first loss. Stoner allowed four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. Jesus Feliciano was 4‐for‐5 to lead the Bisons offense, who out‐hit the G‐Braves 13‐9.

Gwinnett and Buffalo will play game three in the four‐game set on Thursday night at Gwinnett Stadium -- a contest that can be heard live on WDUN AM-550 and on www.wdun.com. Buffalo will start Jonathon Niese (2‐6, 5.55 ERA) in the third game, while Gwinnett will send RHP Jeff Lyman (0‐1, 6.75 ERA), who is anticipated to re‐join the team on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on 70’s Night at Gwinnett Stadium.