LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Gwinnett Braves spent Friday night gradually chipping away at a sizeable Louisville Bats lead, but in the end, three-run homers surrendered by G-Braves starter Jose Ortegano in the first and third innings proved too much to over come in a 7-4 Bats win.

Louisville’s Wladimir Balentien hit both three-run shots, the second time this season he’s hit two home runs in a game against Gwinnett. The other time was May 30 in Louisville, when the Bats won 9-6.

Gwinnett’s Brent Clevlen hit an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the fifth to bring the score to 6-3, but the G-Braves never got any closer.

Ortegano (2-8) took the loss, giving up six runs on nine hits in four innings.

Gwinnett and Louisville resume play today at 7:05 p.m.