Gwinnett Defeats Durham 7-2

Bulls third baseman Jim Haley hammered two hits and drove in two runs, however Stripers third baseman Rylan Bannon clubbed three hits and Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies drove in two runs as part of his MLB Rehab Assignment in Gwinnett’s 7-2 victory over Durham on Wednesday evening at Coolray Field.

Bannon began the scoring with an RBI single in the first to give the Stripers the lead, though Haley helped counter with a game-tying run-scoring double down the left field line in the third. Gwinnett, though, would answer with a four-run fourth frame capped by Albies’s two-run triple off the right field wall to make it 5-1. The Stripers would plate two more scores in the fifth to extend the lead to 7-1 before Haley drove in his second run of the evening by reaching on an infield single.

Haley (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and C David Rodriguez (2-4, R) reach posted multi-hit efforts, while Bannon (3-4, 2 R, RBI) led all hitters with his three knocks. Durham 2B Miles Mastrobuoni did not record a hit in the contest, and remains tied for first in the International League with 143 hits this year.

Stripers reliever Victor Vodnik (1.0 IP, SO) earned the victory in support of starter Jared Shuster (4.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 4 SO). Bulls starter Nathan Wiles (3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 4 SO), meanwhile, suffered the defeat.

The two teams are set to continue their six-game set on Thursday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm. Durham’s starting pitcher has not yet been announced, while Gwinnett is anticipated to give the ball to LHP Kyle Muller.

Durham returns home for their final homestand of the 2022 campaign on Tuesday, September 20 to face off against the Baltimore Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides. First pitch of the series opener at Durham Bulls Athletic Park is set for 6:35pm.

Tickets for that game and all remaining 2022 home dates can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com/tickets.