Dan Nelson’s three-run homer capped a decisive four-run fourth inning as the Gwinnett Braves defeated the Norfolk Tides 8-3 on Wednesday night at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.
Nelson’s blast came with nobody out and scored Mauro Gomez and Joe Mather. Gomez had driven home Ed Lucas for the first run of the inning.
Norfolk (1-6) scored twice in the first inning on a two-run single by Josh Bell.
The G-Braves (4-3) took the lead with three runs in the third. With two outs, Matt Kennelly and Jordan Schafer walked. Jose Constanza followed Schafer with a single to right that scored Kennelly with Gwinnett’s first run.
Diory Hernandez followed Constanza to the plate, and his double to center drove home both base runners.
Hernandez was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. G-Braves starter Rodrigo Lopez (2-0) pitched 7 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs and five hits while striking out five and walking one.
