The Gwinnett Braves defeated the Norfolk Tides 5-4 on Thursday. The G-Braves improve to 44-37 on the season while the Tides fall to 43-35.

With the win, the Braves remain 2.5 games behind Durham in the Southern Division (Durham beat Charlotte 8-6 Thursday to maintain their first-place position), but now only trail second place Norfolk by a half game.

With four runs in the ninth inning, the Braves earned their second-straight comeback win. J.C. Holt led off the late rally with a single to right and then stole second base. Brandon Jones doubled to score Holt and following a Clint Sammons walk, Reid Gorecki singles to plate Jones. Brian Barton singled to score Antonio Perez (running for Sammons) and Wes Timmons, extending his on-base streak to 27, doubled to give Gwinnett the one run advantage over Norfolk.

DH Michael Aubrey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Tides.

For Gwinnett, RHP Jon Huber earned the win after pitching the eighth inning in relief for John Halama. Halama started the game, allowed two earned runs and struck out three in seven innings but did not factor into the decision.

2009 All-Star Luis Valdez recorded his 14th save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

RHP Bob McCrory was credited with the loss after allowing three hits and four earned runs in À innings.

Gwinnett returns to actiontoday in the final game of the two game set at Norfolk. G-Braves’ RHP Tony Armas (1-1, 4.11 ERA) will face the Tides’ RHP Chris Tillman (5-5, 2.97). First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Gwinnett returns home Saturday to continue the series with Norfolk.