Bulls Smash Braves 16-8, Claim 4th Straight

Lawrenceville, GA --- Rich Thompson had four hits, scored four runs and hit a home run to lift the Durham Bulls to their fourth straight win 16-8 over Gwinnett on Wednesday night at Coolray Field.

The Bulls (50-56) raced out to a 7-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings. Thompson homered on the game's fourth pitch, and ultimately knocked out starter Jose Lugo before the first inning. Lugo walked the next three hitters, received a double play, then proceeded to allow two more runs on a single by Chris Gimenez single and Nevin Ashley double as the Bulls went up 4-0.

In the second, the Bulls scored three more runs with two outs on a single to right by Henry Wrigley followed by Leslie Anderson's team-leading 11th homer inside the right field foul pole.

The Braves rallied to tie the game by the end of the fourth against starter Lance Pendleton (W, 6-4). Pendleton battled through 5 2/3 innings on a season-high 112 pitches to earn the win.

With the game tied 7-7 in the sixth, the Bulls had runners at second and third with none out, but after a grounder to first and a shallow flyball, the Braves issued an intentional walk to fill the bases before an unintentional walk to Gimenez to force in a run ahead of a grand slam by Reid Brignac to make it 12-7.

The Bulls added three in the seventh on a bases loaded double by Wrigley, then finished their 16-run assault with a Thompson single in the eighth.

The 16 runs by Durham were the most since August 2nd, 2011 when the Bulls crushed Charlotte 18-3.

The series continues Thursday night with Cesar Ramos starting against Randall Delgado at 7:05 PM ET.