Homers Power G-Braves Over Indians, 9-3

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - The Gwinnett Braves (48-49) snapped a five-game losing streak in impressive fashion, hitting three home runs to fly past the Indianapolis Indians (54-44) 9-3 on Friday night at Coolray Field.
Lane Adams led the way for the G-Braves by hitting homers in both the sixth and seventh innings and driving in four runs, and Carlos Franco added a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth to seal the win.
Starter Kris Medlen got into trouble in the first inning, but induced a pop-up from Elias Díaz to strand a pair of runners on base. He wouldn't be as fortunate in the second. With one out, Gift Ngoepe's ground ball was misplayed by Gwinnett third baseman Jace Peterson for an error, putting two runners on. With two outs, Christopher Bostick's line drive just went over the glove of a leaping Ozzie Albies at second base for a two-run single. The two runs would be all the visitors could produce off Medlen.
In the bottom of the fifth, Gwinnett pinch-hit for Medlen, ending his start. Over 5.0 innings, the veteran right-hander gave up two runs, both unearned, on six hits while walking one and striking out four. He did not factor in the final decision. 
In that fifth inning, the G-Braves loaded the bases with two walks and a single for pinch-hitter Xavier Avery . He put the Gwinnett on the board with a sacrifice fly off Indians' reliever Tyler Eppler, scoring Sean Kazmar Jr. Jr. from third.  
Making his first appearance since rejoining the G-Braves from Advanced-A Florida, Andres Santiago (W, 2-0) retired all six batters he faced in relief between the sixth and seventh to keep the game close. A late offensive outburst would give him the win.
Adams got Medlen off the hook in the bottom of the sixth by hitting a solo home run to right field to even the score at 2-2. In the seventh, Ronald Acuña Jr. put the G-Braves in front by grounding a single through the middle to score pinch-hitter Micah Johnson , who reached on an error earlier in the inning. Peterson extended Gwinnett's lead to 4-2 with an RBI single of his own. Adams then followed with a three-run homer, his second of the night and seventh of the season, an estimated 407 feet to right-center to make it 7-2.
Indianapolis got a run closer in the eighth as former G-Brave Phil Gosselin's RBI single off Jason Hursh scored Danny Ortiz.
Gwinnett responded in the bottom of the eighth as Franco delivered a pinch-hit two-run home run, his sixth with Gwinnett and 17th overall this season, to left-center off Montana DuRapau. 
In the ninth, Enrique Burgos pitched a scoreless inning to finish off the win.
For Gwinnett, Adams finished 2-for-3 with his second multi-homer game for the G-Braves this season, first since April 11 at Norfolk. Acuna went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI, and catcher Joe Odom went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks in his Triple-A debut.
Bostick and Gosselin each recorded three hits to lead the way for Indianapolis. Starter Clay Holmes gave up one run in 4.0 innings before Eppler (L, 6-5) was tagged for six runs, five earned over 3.0 innings. DuRapau allowed two runs over 1.0 inning.
Game three of the series is scheduled for Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. The Indians are scheduled to start left-hander Steven Brault (8-4, 2.06 ERA) against the G-Braves' Lucas Sims (6-4, 4.01 ERA). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 5:35 p.m.
The first 2,500 fans through the gates for Saturday's game will receive a limited-edition bobblehead of Baseball Hall of Famer and Braves legend Phil Niekro, courtesy of Gwinnett Medical Center. Fans can also get autographs from Niekro on the Coolray Field concourse until approximately 5:45 p.m. Following the game is Post-Game Fireworks. For tickets, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.