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.