Six-Run Sixth Propels Bulls to 9-2 Victory

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls defeated the Gwinnett Braves 9-2 Saturday night in front of 10,368 fans at the DBAP, using a six-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach.

Durham (47-42) got on the board in the first inning, as Boog Powell reached on a dropped third strike, and Nick Franklin followed with a walk. With Taylor Motter at the dish, Powell and Franklin were running on the pitch when Motter dribbled a grounder in front of home plate. Motter was thrown out at first, but Powell never stopped running on the play and came around to score from second base for a 1-0 lead.

In the third the G-Braves (44-45) tied the game up in the third inning, as with a runner on second base Joey Terdoslavich lined a pitch that deflected off Durham starting pitcher Scott Diamond's left arm. The ball ricocheted into shallow right field, scoring Jose Peraza and giving Terdoslavich an RBI double. Diamond, who had taken a liner off his right leg earlier in the game, departed after the play with an injury.

The Bulls re-took the lead in the fourth inning, plating a run when Hak-Ju Lee walked, stole second, moved to third base on a fly out and scored on Vince Belnome's sacrifice fly to leftfield. Durham then extended the lead in the fifth when Motter walked, stole second, advanced to third on a fly out and scored when Tim Beckham hit a sacrifice fly down the rightfield line.

After Terdoslavich homered in the top of the sixth inning to make it a 3-2 ballgame, the home side erupted in the bottom half of the frame with six runs to take a 9-2 lead. Belnome kicked things off by scoring Lee on a double to rightfield, before scoring a batter later when Powell doubled. After a strikeout, a single and a walk to load the bases, Tim Beckham scored a pair with a single, before JP Arencibia scored on the play on a throwing error. The big inning continued when Mikie Mahtook singled to centerfield, scoring Beckham for the seven-run advantage.

After Diamond's exit, CJ Riefenhauser, Jhan Mariñez and Everett Teaford combined to allow just one run over the final 6 1/3 frames, with Riefenhauser (2-2) earning the win with a scoreless 1 2/3 innings. Righty Alex White (1-2) took the loss for Gwinnett, surrendering six runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Powell led the Durham offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and walk, while Beckham finishing the night 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run.

The series concludes Sunday when the Bulls send RHP Matt Andriese (1-0, 2.88) to the hill against RHP Kanekoa Texeira (0-3, 3.89) for the G-Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.