Hagens Twirls Gem as Bulls Edge G-Braves

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls scored two runs in the second inning and held on for a 2-1 win over the Gwinnett Braves Monday night at the DBAP.

Right-hander Bradin Hagens (4-5) won his third straight start, surrendering one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings. After his departure Andrew Bellatti recorded the next four outs, before Jhan Mariñez dealt a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save of the season.

In the second inning the Bulls (69-68) struck first, as Corey Brown doubled and Joey Rickard singled to put runners on the corners. After Jake Elmore drove home Brown on a single to rightfield for a 1-0 lead, Mayo Acosta's sacrifice fly to right scored Rickard as Durham doubled its advantage.

In the fifth Gwinnett (72-64) scored its lone run when Cedric Hunter singled to rightfield with two outs, scoring Luis Mateo from third base. From the sixth inning on the G-Braves did not put another runner on base however, as Durham secured its second straight win.

Joey Rickard went 3-for-3 with a run and a walk, raising his average to .370 since his promotion from Double-A Montgomery on Aug. 2. Corey Brown went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Elmore finished 1-for-2 with two walks.

Durham's six-game homestand concludes Tuesday against Gwinnett at 7:05 p.m. LHP Scott Diamond (10-5, 3.74) makes the start for Durham opposite RHP Victor Mateo (3-2, 5.52) for the G-Braves.