Constanza Drives In Tying And Winning Runs, Gac Has 4 Hit Day, And Rohm Shows Off Extra Base Power In Wednesday's Atlanta Braves Minor League Action

Gwinnett scored 7 runs in the top of the 9th to set up an extra inning victory, Ian Gac had a 4 hit day for Mississippi, and David Rohm continued to show off his extra base prowess.

Gwinnett Braves 14, Norfolk Tides 12, 11 innings

• Luis Durango CF 2-6, RBI, BB, .306 AVG
• Jose Constanza LF 3-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, E (1), .750 AVG
• Stefan Gartrell RF 2-5, HR (1), 4 RBI, BB, .154 AVG
• Greg Paiml SS 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, .294 AVG
• Erik Cordier 3.1 IP, 9 R, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 6.75 ERA
• Cory Gearrin 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, W (1), 0.00 ERA
• Adam Russell 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K, SV (1), 0.00 ERA

This was a wild one. After starter Erik Cordier allowed 9 runs, 6 earned, without making it out of the 4th, the G-Braves found themselves down 12-5 going into the top of the 9th. The floodgates opened after that, with Ernesto Mejia rapping an RBI single, then a pair of runs were walked in by Tides reliever Jon Link, Greg Paiml hit a RBI sacrifice fly that was dropped, keeping the bases loaded, Luis Durango walked in another run, and finally Jose Constanze hit a 2 run single to tie the game. It stayed knotted until the 11th, when Dontrelle Willis, yes, that Dontrelle Willis came into the game. That alone was enough to swing things in the Braves' favor, but the former phenom tossed just 9 pitches, 7 of them balls, before complaining of discomfort in his throwing arm. That forced the Tides to bring in shortstop Steve Tolleson to pitch, who would have gotten out of the inning with a double play if not for an error by his third baseman. Constanza again did the big damage in the inning, clubbing a 2 run triple to deep right center, putting the Braves on top. Adam Russell struck out 2 in the bottom of the inning, picking up the save. Cory Gearrin tossed a scoreless 9th and 10th innings for the win, giving him 6 scoreless on the season.

The G-Braves head back to Georgia for their home opener Thursday night, with Julio Teheran scheduled to take the mound.

Mississippi Braves 8, Montgomery Biscuits 2

• Myke Jones CF 1-3, 2BB, SB (1), .188 AVG
• Cory Harrilchak RF 2-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, .364 AVG
• Ian Gac 1B 4-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, E (1), .346 AVG
• Zeke Spruill 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K, W (1), 1.64 ERA

Zeke Spruill's 2nd start was just as solid as his first, as he allowed just 1 run over 6 innings, picking up his first win of the year. In 11 innings, he's allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, walked 3, and struck out 11. Ian Gac was the Carolina League MVP last season, and the Braves signed him in the offseason to be Mississippi's cleanup hitter and so far the 26 year old first baseman hasn't disappointed. After today's 4 hit, 2 RBI game, he's 9-26 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 3 RBI in his first 7 games. Myke Jones returned today after missing a few games following a nasty outfield collision with Keenan Wiley that sent Wiley to the DL and left a gruesome gash on Jones' face. He came back in style, reaching base 3 times and stealing a bag. Cory Harrilchak began the year with Gwinnett, going 0-8 before being sent down to Mississippi, and he's gone 4-11 with 3 RBI in 3 games with the M-Braves.

Sean Gilmartin will make his second start of the season tomorrow night.

Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Salem Red Sox 1

• Nick Ahmed 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB (2), .263 AVG
• Chris Garcia 1B 2-4, .286 AVG
• David Rohm RF 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, .263 AVG
• Cody Martin 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K, W (2), 0.00 ERA
• Juan Jaime 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K, SV (1), 0.00 ERA

After picking up a win with a scoreless relief inning in his first appearance, Cody Martin picked up his second win tonight with 5 shutout innings as a starter, striking out 6. Juan Jaime, a former Nationals prospect who missed all of 2010 and 2011 recovering from Tommy John surgery, struck out the side in the 9th for his first save of the season. Chris Garcia had a pair of singles, making him 4-8 in his last 2 games. David Rohm had a pair of doubles, and all 5 of his hits on the season have gone for extra bases, with 4 doubles and a triple.

The win made the Hillcats a perfect 5-0 on the season, the first time in Lynchburg history a team has started 5-0. Gus Schlosser takes the mound tomorrow, looking to set a new record with 6 wins to start the year.

Rome Braves 5, Savannah Sand Gnats 10

• Elmer Reyes SS 2-5, .200 AVG
• Will Skinner LF 2-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, SB (1), .200 AVG
• Kyle Kubitza 3B 1-4, HR (1), RBI, .105 AVG
• William Beckwith 1B 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, .182 AVG
• Chase Larsson RF 1-3, 3B, BB, .267 AVG
• David Filak 4 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 2.70 ERA
• John Cornely 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA

Chase Larsson extended his hitting streak to 4 games with a 2 run triple and Will Skinner and Kyle Kubitza both hit their first homers of the season. David Filak was a bit wild, walking 3 over 4 innings, while also striking out 4 and allowing 2 runs. The real damage came off reliever Greg Ross, who allowed 8 runs over 2.2 innings.

With their road trip over, Rome will have their home opener Thursday night, with Tim Hudson scheduled to make his second rehab start.