MOOSIC, Pa. – Fans at PNC Field enjoyed a pitcher’s duel on Tuesday night as the Gwinnett Braves edged the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 3-1. The Braves (12-13) took the third of four meetings in the season series from the RailRiders (12-14). Slade Heathcott led the RailRiders with three hits, his team-leading 11th multi-hit effort of the year.
Matt Wisler (1-3) limited the RailRiders to a run on five hits across 5.1 innings to earn the victory. He struck out seven SWB batters while issuing only one walk. Kyle Davies (2-2) shouldered the loss despite giving his team seven innings. The right-hander worked around 10 hits to hold the Braves to three runs. Davies fanned three. John Cornely earned his first save in three tries with a scoreless 1.1 innings.
Todd Cunningham was instrumental in Gwinnett’s victory. The speedy center fielder opened the second inning with a single and stole second. A groundout by Barrett Kleinknecht moved Cunningham to third. He scored when Joe Benson singled to center.
The G-Braves made it 2-0 in the fourth when Cunningham led off with a double. A sacrifice fly to left by Kleinknecht pushed Cunningham across.
Kyle Roller helped the RailRiders to their only tally in the sixth. Heathcott opened the frame with his third single of the night. A base hit to right by Ramon Flores advanced Heathcott to third. After Rob Refsnyder flew out to center, Roller skied a pitch down the left field line. Cedric Hunter missed the catch, allowing Roller to reach on the error as Heathcott scored.
The Braves added an insurance run in the seventh thanks to a bunt single and an error. Davies played the bunt attempt by Kleinknecht, but his throw sailed into foul ground. The misfire allowed Kleinknecht to second. Benson followed with a single to bring him home for the final margin.
The RailRiders have an early wake-up call on Wednesday as they host the Gwinnett Braves (Atlanta Braves) for the second game of the series at 10:35 a.m. RHP Bryan Mitchell (1-2, 2.84) takes the mound for SWB against former New York Yankee RHP Chien-Ming Wang (0-2, 5.5). For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
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