Aaron Blair pitched seven strong innings before getting into trouble in the eighth but the Gwinnett Braves held on for a 7-4 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in the first game of the best-of-five Governors’ Cup Championship Series Tuesday night in Moosic, Pa.
The Braves scored six runs in the first inning. After a leadoff walk by Emilio Bonifacio and a one-out single by Ronnier Mustelier, Sean Kazmar Jr. blasted a three-run home run. Gwinnett then loaded the bases on two singles and an error. Braeden Schlehuber dropped a two-run single and Bonifacio added an RBI single.
Blair, making his second rehab start for the Atlanta Braves, held Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to just a run in the first seven innings but gave up two singles and a walk before exiting in the eighth.
Jason Hursh relieved and allowed three inherited runners to score, cutting Gwinnett’s lead to 6-4.
Blair pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and six hits. He walked three and struck out five, throwing 68 of his 108 pitches for strikes.
Kazmar Jr. went 3-for-5 with his third playoff home run.
The G-Braves and RailRiders play Game 2 on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Chris Ellis (1-0, 0.00 ERA in the postseason) will start for Gwinnett.
