Gwinnett Takes Rubber Match Over Durham 5-2
DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls dropped the rubber match of a three-game set to the Gwinnett Braves 5-2 Sunday evening at the DBAP, committing four errors and allowing two unearned runs in the defeat.
Gwinnett (52-63) took the lead just two batters into the game when Omar Infante ripped a solo dinger over the Blue Monster. The Bulls (53-63) countered an inning later though, as JP Arencibia lifted his 12th homer of the season over the leftfield wall to tie the game at one.
In the third Blake Lalli reached on an error for the visitors, and scored three batters later when Infante laced a single to left. In the fifth the G-Braves extended their lead as Infante struck again, this time lifting a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Daniel Castro.
Gwinnett's advantage ballooned to three runs in the top of the sixth inning when Rio Ruiz scored on an errant pickoff throw, but the home side got a run back in the bottom of the frame as Taylor Motter doubled and later scored on Casey Gillaspie's RBI ground out.
In the eighth the G-Braves added to their lead when Matt Lipka singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error on the steal. Lalli then knocked a single to right, scoring Lipka for a 5-2 lead. The Bulls loaded the bases in the ninth, bringing the potential winning run to the dish, but Alec Sole struck out looking to end the contest as the Bulls finished their five-game homestand 2-3.
Matt Wisler (1-1) picked up the victory with six innings of two-run ball, while Maikel Cleto earned his fourth save of the campaign with a scoreless ninth. Jaime Schultz (5-5) took the loss after surrendering four runs (three earned) over 5 2/3 innings while striking out 10.
Motter finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored to lead the Durham offense. In his first rehab game with the Bulls, Matt Duffy went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Durham has its final off day of 2016 on Monday, before returning to action on Tuesday against the Pawtucket Red Sox at McCoy Stadium. RHP Austin Pruitt (8-7, 3.28) is slated to take the hill for Durham opposite LHP Henry Owens (6-6, 4.06) for the PawSox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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