Gwinnett Jumps On Bulls Early, Cruise 9-3

Lawrenceville, GA --- After wasting a first inning chance to take control, Durham watched the Gwinnett Braves roll to their fifth straight win 9-3 at Coolray Field on Tuesday night.

The game began with three straight hits by the Bulls (51-53), but Durham could not scratch across a run against Greg Smith. However, JP Arencibia and Richie Shaffer fanned, with Mikie Mahtook grounding out to let Smith off the hook.

That was the game's early turning point. 

In the bottom half, Matt Andriese (L, 2-2) was drilled for five runs and six hits, along with the first of Durham's season-high six errors as Gwinnett (53-50) assumed command 5-0.

After a Grady Sizemore sac fly in the fifth put Durham on the board, the Braves scored an unearned run in the fifth after right fielder Taylor Motter failed to scoop a single, permitting Christian Bethancourt to score. In the sixth, two errors by second baseman Ryan Brett allowed a run to score. Then Brett overran a popfly near the right field line for a Joey Terdoslavich RBI-double to make it 8-1. Hak-Ju Lee made consecutive errors in the eighth with two outs, but the Braves did not capitalize. 

Motter matched a personal and team-high with four hits, going 4-5 to lift his average to .311.

Andriese worked five innings, allowing 11 hits and six runs (four earned). Everett Teaford yielded three runs (one earned) in one-plus inning. CJ Riefenhauser worked two scoreless innings.

The Bulls 11-game road trip concludes Wednesday night with Blake Snell (0-1, 2.25) opposing Sugar Ray Marimon (3-2, 3.61) at 6:35 PM ET. The Bulls are 2-8 on the swing and remained nine games back of first place Norfolk.