Durham Drops Gwinnett 4-3 For 4th Straight Win

Aranda, Pinto & Manzardo combine for eight hits & three RBI as Bulls clinch series victory

(Kelly Teseny (Durham Bulls))

May 27, 2023

Bulls third baseman Jonathan Aranda, catcher Rene Pinto and first baseman Kyle Manzardo combined to record eight hits, with each driving in a run as Durham earned their fourth straight win with a 4-3 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Saturday evening at Coolray Field. Pinto gave the Bulls the

Bulls third baseman Jonathan Aranda, catcher Rene Pinto and first baseman Kyle Manzardo combined to record eight hits, with each driving in a run as Durham earned their fourth straight win with a 4-3 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Saturday evening at Coolray Field.

Pinto gave the Bulls the early 1-0 advantage via his first-inning RBI single to center. Aranda would then double Durham’s advantage to two courtesy of a run scoring single to left-center before a two-spot in the subsequent inning highlighted by Manzardo’s RBI double down the right field line made it 4-0.

The Stripers would halve their deficit with two scores of their own in the last of the fourth before narrowing the margin to one with a single tally in the sixth. Gwinnett would load the bases and put the winning run on second base in the ninth, however were unable to erase the deficit.

Aranda (3-4, R, RBI) and Pinto (3-4, R, 2 2B, RBI) each posted a game-high three knocks, with Manzardo (2-4, R, 2B, RBI) adding a multi-hit effort of his own. Gwinnett LF Nick Solak (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI) tallied two knocks and drove in all three of the home side’s runs.

Durham reliever Ben Heller (2.1 IP, H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory in support of starter Chris Gau (2.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO), with Hector Perez (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) notching the save. Tampa Bay Rays righty Shawn Armstrong also tossed a scoreless frame of relief for Durham as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment, while Gwinnett starter Allan Winans (6.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) suffered the defeat.

The two teams are set to conclude their six-game set on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05pm. The Bulls’ starting pitcher has not yet been announced while RHP Michael Soroka is anticipated to get the nod for the Stripers.

Durham returns home to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Monday, May 29 to begin a seven-game homestand hosting the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. First pitch of that contest is slated for 5:05pm.

Tickets for that game and all 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.