Flande Shuts Down Bulls for Braves first DBAP Win

In their final game at the DBAP in 2013, the Gwinnett Braves finally posted a win over the first-place Bulls. Durham won their first nine home games against Gwinnett this year, but the Braves shut down the Bulls offense in a 4-1 win in front of a paid crowd of 9,625 on Sunday evening.

LHP Yohan Flande (W, 7-6, 4.42), who had a 9.00 ERA at the DBAP in three previous appearances this year was perfect through three innings and nearly unhittable through eight, holding the Bulls to one run on three hits and not walking a batter, while striking out eight.

The Bulls gave the Braves a little bit of help in building a lead. Sean Kazmar doubled to lead off the third, but he wouldn't have scored on a ground ball without advancing to third on a wild pitch by Merrill Kelly (6-2, 2.59).

The G-Braves scored an unearned run in the fourth when RF Chris Gimenez misplayed an RBI single, allowing a second runner to score. The versatile Gimenez has five errors this season, one each at five different positions-right field, left field, first base, third base, and catcher.

Durham scored their only run in the fourth, when Tim Beckham broke up Flande's perfect game with a leadoff double, then scored from third on a grounder by Jason Bourgeois. Ryan Buchter struck out three Bulls in the ninth to record his fourth save.

The Bulls welcome the IL North leading Rochester Red Wings for a four-game series at the DBAP starting Monday at 7:05pm. RHP Matt Buschmann (5-0, 3.36) starts for the Bulls against a yet to be determined Wings pitcher.

Bulls game story brought to you by Strayer University, Bringing Home the Bulls in September.