For the second straight game, the G-Braves scored seven runs and beat the Buffalo Bisons on Monday night, 7-2. They beat Syracuse 7-4 on Sunday. The 14 runs in two games are a pleasant surprise after not scoring any runs for 23 straight innings against Syracuse.
Matt Young and Wes Timmons got the team off to a great start with two singles to start the game. That led to an early 2-0 lead for starting pitcher Tim Gustafson, who got the win after going six innings, while allowing five hits and one run, with two strikeouts. The second inning was something to behold, as Gwinnett had six hits and four runs to match a season high for hits in an inning.
Freddie Freeman stretched his hit streak to 10 games and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also made a sparkling play at first, diving for a hard hit ball and getting the out in the sixth inning.
Manager Dave Brundage commented on his first baseman’s play, "Freeman’s excelled when we’ve put him in the 3-hole in the lineup."
Joe Thurston also played an all-around solid game going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two great plays at second in the latter innings. The 6-0 lead after two innings allowed the team to coast to the victory.
Left fielder Matt Young had two hits on the night and appreciated the play of his teammates. "Wes (Timmons) did a good job getting me in scoring position," Young said after the game. Timmons had two singles on two hit-and-run plays that put Young on third. The seven runs gave the team some confidence, something they might have lost against Syracuse.
"We hit a little bit of a lull and there was some doubt, but that’s baseball, when you get on base that helps everybody relax," added Young.
He was not satisfied after scoring six runs in the first two innings tonight. "We’re still not perfect, six runs is good, but you don’t want to just parachute the rest of the game, you want to get to that guy (the starting pitcher)," Young concluded.
In other news, right-hander Scott Proctor moved up from Myrtle Beach to Gwinnett on Monday. Earlier this year he was 1-2 with an 11.25 ERA in eight innings for the G-Braves. He had "Tommy John" surgery last year and has yet to show signs that he has fully recovered.
Takashi Saito started his first game of any kind since coming over from Japan. He went one inning, allowed one hit and struck out one batter on Sunday afternoon.
Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens went 4.1 innings, allowing eight hits and two runs in his second rehab start for Gwinnett on Saturday. He will take to the mound for his third start for the G-Braves on Thursday.
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