LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (35-26) gave up 17 hits in a 12-3 loss to the Durham Bulls (35-26) on Friday at Coolray Field. Alex Jackson hit his 12th home run of the season in the losing cause.
Scoring Recap: Durham took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run homer by Emilio Bonifacio (2) to right off Patrick Weigel. In the third, Jackson (12) hit a 464-foot two-run blast to left off Jose De Leon to tie the game at 2-2. Durham regained the lead in the fifth as Jake Cronenworth grounded out to bring home a run and Michael Perez singled home another run to make it 4-2 Bulls. Later in the fifth, Nate Lowe singled to bring in two more runs and extend the lead to 6-2. The Bulls added two runs in the sixth to go up 8-2. The Stripers cut it to 8-3 in the sixth as Adam Duvall grounded out to score Andres Blanco. Durham scored four runs in the seventh to make it 12-3.
Stripers Stats: Weigel tossed 3.2 innings with two runs on three hits in a no-decision. Ben Rowen (L, 4-2) yielded four runs over 1.1 innings, and Shane Carle allowed six runs over 1.0 inning. Offensively, Jackson went 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, and Duvall went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Bulls Stats: Following 4.0 two-run innings from De Leon, Vidal Nuno (W, 1-0) picked up the win in relief with one unearned run on two hits over 1.2 innings. Bonifacio went 4-for-5 with a double, homer, and three RBIs.
Postgame Notes: Jackson’s two-run homer was Gwinnett’s International League-leading 106th this season. With the loss, the Stripers fall into a two-way tie with Durham for second place in the International League South Division. Both teams trail Charlotte (34-25) by winning percentage (.576 to .574).
Next Game (Saturday, June 8): Durham vs. Gwinnett, 6:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. LHP Dallas Keuchel (NR) scheduled to start for the Stripers vs. TBD for the Bulls. Radio Broadcast: 5:50 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM “The Other Side of the River.”
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The Gwinnett Stripers are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, playing their 11th season at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Ga. For tickets, team merchandise or more information, visit GoStripers.com. Follow the Stripers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at GoStripers.