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MOOSIC — The hottest team in the International League cooled off just in time to return to PNC Field.

After winning the first six games on the road, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders had their winning streak end Thursday in Toledo before falling again on the first game back home on Friday.

Anthony Recker and Blake Lalli had two-run singles before and after Bradley Roney pitched three innings of scoreless relief to lead the Gwinnett Braves to a 7-1 victory over the RailRiders.

Gwinnett arrived in town fresh off three straight losses in Allentown against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The Braves took the lead by breaking a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning to chase RailRiders starter Kyle Haynes (1-2).

Ozzie Albies drew a two-out walk and Emilio Bonifacio followed with a hit-and-run single to put runners at the corners. After Bonifacio stole second base, Anthony Recker delivered a two-run single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.

Although he did not allow an earned run, Gwinnett starter Manny Banuelos needed 80 pitches to get through four innings.

Roney took it from there, giving up just one hit in three innings to get the win. He walked two, but got three straight strikeouts after allowing the hit and a double play ball after walking two straight.

Daniel Castro and Lalli had back-to-back, run-scoring singles in the three-run eighth inning to break the game open.

Gwinnett added another run in the ninth.

Both teams’ hot leadoff hitters went right to work.

Albies, Gwinnett’s 19-year-old second baseman, started the game with a single. He wound up scoring the first of his two runs on a Rio Ruiz single to open the scoring. Albies now has scored in eight straight games.

Ben Gamel, who hit .552 with three triples, eight RBI and seven runs in the seven-game RailRiders road trip, led off the bottom of the first with a double. He ended up at third when the team left the bases loaded without scoring.

Gamel also provided the game’s most impressive play.

The center fielder ran hard toward the left-center gap in the sixth inning and launched himself horizontally to snag Lalli’s low liner.

The RailRiders got their only run in the fourth inning. Jake Cave doubled down the left-field line with two outs and scored on an infield throwing error.

Three RailRiders reached base three times, but the team left 10 men on and scored just once.

Gamel went 2 for 4 with a walk.

Nick Swisher had two hits and a walk, but hit into a double play in one of the game’s biggest at-bats when the RailRiders were still within, 3-1, and put the first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh.

Jonathan Diaz was 1 for 2 with two walks from the ninth spot in the order.

The RailRiders (39-30) remained 1 ½ games behind the Rochester Red Wings in the North Division, the IL’s strongest. Gwinnett (31-37) stayed within 3 ½ games of the Charlotte Knights in the South Division, the league’s weakest.

Friday’s game began a six-game homestand for the RailRiders. After taking Monday off, they will face the Toledo Mud Hens Tuesday through Thursday nights.

The middle game of the three-game series with Gwinnett is scheduled for Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with Luis Severino (2-0, 3.24 earned run average) pitching for the RailRiders against Chris Ellis, who was 8-2 with a 2.75 ERA at Double-A Mississippi to earn a promotion Thursday.

Braves 7, RailRiders 1

Gwinnett`AB`R`H`BI

Albies 2b`4`2`1`0

Bonifacio cf`3`2`2`0

Recker c`5`0`1`2

Ruiz dh`3`1`1`1

Mustelier lf`5`1`1`1

Castro ss`4`1`2`1

Lalli 1b`4`0`1`2

Landoni 3b`4`0`1`0

Lipka rf`4`0`0`0

Totals`36`7`10`7

RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI

Gamel cf`4`0`2`0

Swisher 1b`4`0`2`0

Judge rf`4`0`0`0

Sanchez c`4`0`0`0

Austin dh`3`0`0`0

Solano 2b`4`0`0`0

Cave lf`4`1`1`0

Kozma 3b`4`0`1`0

Diaz ss`2`0`1`0

Totals`33`1`7`0

Gwinnett`100`020`031`—`7

RailRiders`000`100`000`—`1

E: Albies (13), Diaz 2 (6). LOB: Gwinnett 8, RailRiders 10. DP: Gwinnett 1, RailRiders 1. 2B: Castro (2), Gamel, Cave. SAC: Bonifacio. SB: Bonifacio (23).

Gwinnett`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Banuelos`4.0`4`1`0`3`5

Roney (W, 1-0)`3.0`1`0`0`2`3

Texeira`2.0`2`0`0`0`2

RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Haynes (L 0-1)`4.2`6`3`3`3`4

Montgomery`1.1`0`0`0`0`0

Shreve`1.0`0`0`0`0`3

Moreno`0.2`3`3`2`1`1

Webb`1.1`1`1`1`1`1

WP: Haynes.

Umpires: HP: Joey Amaral; 1B: Shane Livensparger; 3B: Jeremie Rehak.

T: 3:07. Att.: 8,130.

Starting pitcher Kyle Haynes throws against the Gwinnett Braves. Haynes gave up six hits and three runs in the loss.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_rr_gb1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgStarting pitcher Kyle Haynes throws against the Gwinnett Braves. Haynes gave up six hits and three runs in the loss. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Railriders Tyler Austin steps out of the batter’s box to compose himself after a pitch
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_rr_gb3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgRailriders Tyler Austin steps out of the batter’s box to compose himself after a pitch Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ first baseman Nick Swisher hits a double against the Gwinnett Braves in PNC Field on Friday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_rr_gb2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ first baseman Nick Swisher hits a double against the Gwinnett Braves in PNC Field on Friday. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
SWB falls to Braves, 7-1

By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader

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