Weigel Strong as G-Braves Clip Bisons

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Patrick Weigel tossed 6.0 innings of one-run baseball for his first career Triple-A victory, and Carlos Franco belted his first career Triple-A home run to lead the Gwinnett Braves (23-21) to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons (23-20) on Wednesday night at Coolray Field.<o:p>
Weigel (W, 1-1), the Atlanta Braves' No. 15 prospect as rated by MLB.com, held Buffalo to a run on five hits over 6.0 innings, walked three and struck out five. He threw 96 pitches, 55 strikes in his third start since joining the G-Braves on May 9.<o:p>
Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Franco drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-out opposite-field double off the left-field wall by Xavier Avery.<o:p>
Buffalo quickly tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third as Roemon Fields doubled, stole third base and scored on an RBI ground out by Jake Elmore.<o:p>
In the fourth, the G-Braves opened a 4-1 lead thanks to Franco. After a single by Sean Kazmar Jr. and a walk by Dustin Peterson, Franco crushed a three-run home run over the visiting bullpen in right. The 406-foot blast was Franco's first homer since joining Gwinnett on May 19, and his Braves' organization-leading 12^th overall this season.<o:p>
After Weigel's exit, the Bisons closed the gap to 4-3 in the seventh. David Peterson yielded singles to Alex Monsalve and Fields, and a throwing error by Kazmar on Fields' infield single to third put runners at second and third with one out. Two batters later, Raffy Lopez blooped a broken-bat single into left, scoring both baserunners.<o:p>
Peterson (H, 2) proceeded to strand the tying run on base in the seventh. Mauricio Cabrera (S, 2) came on in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings.<o:p>
Offensively for the G-Braves, Franco finished 1-for-3 with the homer and three RBIs, and Kazmar Jr. went 2-for-4 with a run scored.<o:p>
Luis Santos (L, 1-3) started and lost for the Bisons, allowing four runs on three hits over 5.0 innings. Fields went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, and Lopez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.<o:p>
The G-Braves and Bisons conclude the three-game series on Thursday afternoon at Coolray Field, first pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. Right-hander Lucas Sims (4-1, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for Gwinnett, while Buffalo will counter with right-hander Mat Latos (0-1, 4.35 ERA). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 11:35 a.m.<o:p>
Thursday is "Triple Play Thursday" presented by Coolray Heating & Cooling. Purchase four (4) Infield Box tickets, four (4) hot dogs and four (4) sodas for just $40, either online or at the Coolray Field Ticket Office. For tickets, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.<o:p>