Every Gwinnett Braves position player recorded a hit Saturday night as Gwinnett defeated the Louisville Bats 7-3 at Louisville Slugger Field.
Brian Barton was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs to lead the G-Braves (38-32). The two-run shot was his fourth home run of the season.
In his first start for Gwinnett, shortstop Chris Burke was 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI. Catcher Clint Sammons was 1-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
Gwinnett reliever Mariano Gomez earned his fourth win of the season, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits in three innings. Francisley Bueno started the game for Gwinnett and pitched two scoreless innings. Vladimir Nunez worked hard for the save, pitching three innings, allowing only two hits and stranding three runners in the bottom of the ninth.
Louisville starter Ben Jukich picked up his fourth loss of the year, allowing six earned runs on nines hits in six innings.
Gwinnett posted four runs in the fourth after Barbaro Canizares led off the inning with a single. Brooks Conrad singled to put runners on first and second for Sammons, who pounded a two-run double to right-center. Burke doubled to score Sammons before Barton singled him home to make it a 4-0 game.
The Bats (37-31) answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame and another in the fifth. But Barton’s two-run shot in the seventh and Burke’s third run in the ninth lifted Gwinnett to the 7-3 win.
Gwinnett left-hander John Halama (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the call today to face Louisville righty Ramon Ramirez (2-4, 4.52 ERA) in third game of the four-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field.