Martin Wins 16th as Bulls Take Road Trip Opener

Lawrenceville, GA --- JD Martin worked into the 8th inning en route to his record-setting 16th victory, leading the Durham Bulls past the Gwinnett Braves 5-1 at Coolray Field on Wednesday night.

Martin (W, 16-4), who was making his final regular season start in advance of next week's Governor's Cup semifinal playoff opener against Indianapolis, worked 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run and no walks. Martin improved to 3-0 against Gwinnett (57-82), permitting only one run over 20 1/3 innings against Braves hitting.

Meanwhile, Durham's 17-hit assault against Charlotte on Tuesday night carried over into its opener on Wendesday. Tim Beckham drilled the game's third pitch for a home run to left field, his first home run since July 20th, part of a four-hit night for Beckham.

MLB-rehabbing Luke Scott then bounced an infield single down the third base line, moving to third on a looping double inside the right field line by Brandon Guyer. Leslie Anderson hit a grounder to second to score Scott putting Durham up 2-0.

In the second, Beckham doubled home his second run of the game, slicing a 2-1 pitch from David Hale (L, 6-8) into the right field corner to score Kevin Kiermaier from first base for a 3-0 lead.

Brandon Guyer, who had two extra base hits on the night, grounded a triple into the left field corner to start the fifth. Jason Bourgeois hit a grounder up the middle to bring Guyer home for a 4-0 lead.

The Bulls drilled 12 hits in the win, the first time since July 20-21 where the Bulls managed double-figure hits in consecutive games.

Josh Lueke (S, 17) registered his 17th save in 18 tries, stranding a pair of Martin baserunners in the eighth. Lueke returned for the ninth, hitting a batter and allowing two singles, but left the bases loaded by striking out Matt Pagnozzi and a flyout against Jose Constanza.

Scott was 1-4 with an intentional walk in the first game on a rehab assignment for Tampa Bay.

American League All-Star Matt Moore will make a rehab start for the Bulls on Thursday night against the Braves Omar Poveda (6-7, 3.53) at 6:05 PM ET. Moore, 24, is 14-3 for Tampa Bay and currently on the DL with an elbow injury.

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