G-Braves Down Bulls in Rubber Match, 6-2

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls dropped the rubber match of their three-game set against the Gwinnett Braves 6-2 Wednesday morning at the DBAP, losing consecutive games for the first time in 2016.

The Bulls' bats were held silent for the majority of the contest, as Gwinnett starter Mike Foltynewicz (1-0) tossed six shutout innings, striking out seven and walking just one to earn the victory.

The G-Braves (5-2) took an early lead, scoring one run each in the first, second and third innings against Durham starter Matt Andriese. In the first inning Sean Kazmar hit a solo homer to left field, and in the second frame Blake Lalli scored on a single by Brandon Snyder. The visitors extended their lead to three in the third frame when former Bull Reid Brignac knocked an RBI single.

The three-run lead held until the seventh, when Gwinnett took a four-run advantage on Kazmar's sacrifice fly to left field. In the eighth the G-Braves pushed their lead to five, before Durham (4-3) struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles by Dayron Varona and Nick Franklin.

In the ninth Gwinnett would score once more, before blanking the Bulls to end the contest.

Varona and Mikie Mahtook paced Durham's seven-hit attack, each finishing with a pair of hits as Mahtook extended his hitting streak to seven games. Andriese (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.

The Bulls play their first road game of the season Thursday when they open up a four-game set against the Charlotte Knights at BB&T Ballpark. RHP Jaime Schultz (0-0, 4.15) takes the mound for Durham against RHP Erik Johnson (0-0, 7.20) for Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.