Bulls Slip By G-Braves in Durham
Cedric Hunter's team-leading 72nd RBI is only run in 2-1 loss
DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls (69-68) scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning and held on to defeat the Gwinnett Braves (72-64) 2-1 in game one of a two-game series on Monday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Gwinnett remains 3.0 games behind Norfolk (75-61) for first place in the International League South Division as the Tides lost 3-1 to Charlotte on Monday. That win by the Knights (72-65), however, brings them to within a half game of the G-Braves for second place in the South.
Durham scored both runs in the bottom of the second against left-hander Greg Smith. Corey Brown doubled off the wall in left, moved to third on a bunt single by Joey Rickard and scored on a single to right by Jake Elmore. Two batters later, Mayo Acosta lifted a sacrifice fly to right scoring Rickard just ahead of a throw from right-fielder Todd Cunningham.
Gwinnett cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the fifth as Luis Mateo singled, took second on a walk toMallex Smith, moved to third on a fielder's choice by Cunningham and scored on a single to right byCedric Hunter. The hit by Hunter produced his team-leading 72nd RBI of the season.
The Bulls threatened to extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth as they loaded the bases with none out, but Smith induced a 3-2-3 double play from Hak-Ju Lee and retired Acosta on another groundout to end the inning.
Smith (L, 6-6) held the Bulls to two runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings, walked two and struck out three. He threw 99 pitches, 64 for strikes. Right-hander David Peterson added 2.0 scoreless, one-hit innings, walked one and struck out one.
Hagens (W, 4-5) pitched 6.2 innings for Durham, allowing a run on four hits over 6.2 innings while walking three and striking out none. Right-hander Andrew Bellatti threw 1.1 scoreless, hitless innings with no strikeouts. Right-hander Jhan Marinez (S, 4) struck out one in a perfect ninth.
Hunter, Lennerton, Mateo and Joey Terdoslavich all had one hit apiece for the G-Braves, who were held without an extra-base hit. Mallex Smith went 0-for-3 in the leadoff spot to snap his nine-game hitting streak.
Rickard led all hitters, going 3-for-3 with a run scored for Durham. Brown also went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The G-Braves and Bulls play the finale of the two-game series on Tuesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Victor Mateo (3-2, 5.52 ERA) is scheduled to start for Gwinnett, while Durham will counter with left-hander Scott Diamond (10-5, 3.74 ERA). Tony Schiavone has the call beginning at 6:30 p.m. on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com.
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The Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Follow the G-Braves at GwinnettBraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.