TOLEDO, Ohio — Aided by superb pitching, the Gwinnett Braves defeated the Toledo Mud Hens, 4-2, Thursday night at Fifth Third Field. It is the sixth straight loss for Toledo.

Making his first career Triple-A start for the G-Braves, Mike Minor (1-0) pitched like a polished veteran, striking out nine in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed just one run on three hits and walked three.

Gwinnett got four runs in the third. Jordan Schafer grounded out to begin the inning, but it would be the only out recorded among the first six batters.

Josh Anderson and Clint Sammons hit back-to-back singles before Toledo starter Alfredo Figaro (6-6) walked Matt Young to load the bases. An infield single by Wes Timmons put the Braves up 1-0. Freddie Freeman’s two-RBI single put Gwinnett up three runs.

With two strikes to Barbaro Canizares, Timmons stole home to make it 4-0. Canizares struck out swinging on the play and Diory Hernandez popped out to end the inning.

It appeared that the Braves were going to get another run in the fifth, but Jeff Frazier had other ideas. With two outs and Freeman on second, Canizares hit a ball to left field. Freeman attempted to score on it but was out by several feet as Frazier’s throw was on the money.

The Hens finally got on the hit and run column in the fifth. Jon Weber got the first Toledo hit of the game with one out. He would score on a Will Rhymes RBI single, closing the gap to 4-1.

Robbie Weinhardt came on to pitch 2.1 innings of relief, striking out two and allowing just one hit.

The Hens got one run in the bottom of the ninth to make it 4-2. Wilkin Ramirez hit an RBI single to score Ryan Strieby. Toledo got the winning run to the plate, but Casper Wells struck out to end the game.