Wladimir Balentien tried to show the Gwinnett Braves that he still belongs in the big leagues, homering twice and bringing in another run with a bases-loaded walk on Sunday night in Louisville's 9-6 victory in the Kentucky city.

Balentien, a former Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds outfielder, helped chase Gwinnett starter Tim Gustafson (4-3) by walking to force home a run during Louisville's biggest outburst, a four-run third inning. Gustafson lasted just seven outs, allowing five earned runs on five hits. Balentien provided a solo homer in the second inning and a two-run shot in the fifth, giving him seven homers for the season.

Mitch Jones and Barbaro Canizares homered for Gwinnett (22-27), with Jones connecting for his ninth, a two-run, two-out blast in the first inning.

The Braves came up with a three-run ninth inning on consecutive run-scoring singles by Joe Thurston, Alex Romero and Clint Sammons before the Bats' bullpen registered the game's final two outs.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Danny Young, 31, was with the Braves organization in 2022 and 2023, making eight major-league appearances. (Jason Getz/AJC 2023)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo