DURHAM, NC - Limited to only one hit through the first six innings, the Gwinnett Stripers (75-54) erupted for eight runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Durham Bulls (69-61) 8-5 on Friday night in game one of a three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The
DURHAM, NC - Limited to only one hit through the first six innings, the Gwinnett Stripers (75-54) erupted for eight runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Durham Bulls (69-61) 8-5 on Friday night in game one of a three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The game was called after seven innings due to heavy rain. With the win, the International League South Division-leading Stripers trimmed their magic number to clinch a Governors' Cup playoff spot to four.
Scoring Recap: Dalton Kelly made it 1-0 Durham in the second inning with an RBI single off Gwinnett starting pitcher Tucker Davidson. In the sixth, the Bulls pushed the lead to 5-0 on the strength of RBI singles by Rocky Gale and Nathan Lukes and a two-run double by Emilio Bonifácio. The game changed drastically in the seventh as Cristian Pache crushed a three-run double to right-center off Anthony Banda to cut the deficit to 5-3. Luis Marté followed with an RBI single off Peter Fairbanks to make it 5-4, and three batters later, Johan Camargo ripped a two-run double to right to give the Stripers a 6-5 lead. Pedro Florimón and Lucas Duda each followed with RBI singles to make it 8-5.
Stripers Stats: Davidson went 4.0 innings with six hits, one earned run, two walks, and five strikeouts. Tyler Matzek tossed 1.1 innings with three hits and three earned runs. Jeremy Walker (W, 2-1) pitched 1.2 innings with two hits, one earned run, and two strikeouts. Offensively, Florimon went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Pache went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Camargo went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Bulls Stats: Starting pitcher José De León worked 4.0 scoreless innings with one hit and six strikeouts. Banda pitched 2.1 innings with two hits and four earned runs. Fairbanks (L, 0-2) tossed two thirds of an inning with five hits and four earned runs. At the plate, Bonifacio was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Postgame Notes:Ryan LaMarre was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning to extend his on-base streak to 30 games, the longest active streak in the IL. Camargo is batting .433 with five extra-base hits and eight RBIs in seven games since being optioned by Atlanta on August 16. Florimon is batting .355 with 35 RBIs in 38 games since the Triple-A All-Star Break.
Next Game (Saturday, August 24): Gwinnett at Durham, 6:35 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. RHP Ian Anderson (1-1, 5.63 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Ricardo Pinto (9-5, 4.35 ERA) for the Bulls. Radio Broadcast: 6:05 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM "The Other Side of the River."
