LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Andres Blanco went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, and Patrick Weigel pitched 5.0 innings of one-run baseball to lead the Gwinnett Stripers (50-38) over the Durham Bulls (53-36) 7-3 on Saturday night at Coolray Field.
Scoring Recap: Durham took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Michael Perez (5) off Weigel. In the bottom of the fourth, Gwinnett tied the game at 1-1 on a two-out RBI single by Ryan LaMarre. In the fifth, Blanco (12) crushed a 385-foot three-run homer to left off Ryan Yarbrough to give the Stripers a 4-1 lead. Later in the inning, LaMarre delivered a two-run single to boost the lead to 6-1. Blanco made it 7-1 in the sixth with an RBI single. Durham scored twice in the eighth to get within 7-3.
Stripers Stats: Weigel (W, 2-1) pitched 5.0 innings with one run on three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Kurt Hoekstra made his Triple-A debut and worked 3.0 innings with two runs on five hits. Shane Carle tossed a scoreless ninth. Along with Blanco’s four-RBI effort, LaMarre went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Bulls Stats: Yarbrough (L, 2-1) pitched 5.0 innings and gave up six runs on nine hits. Perez went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs for the Durham offense.
Quote: “Last time I had a good outing and I’m happy to continue with this outing,” Weigel said. “It’s been two years since my (Tommy John) surgery and I am excited to continue to move forward.”
Postgame Notes: Weigel is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA (1 ER in 9.1 IP) in two July starts. Blanco’s four RBIs matched his single-game season high, last reached on April 11 at Louisville. Rafael Ortega went 1-for-3 and has hit safely in 38 of his last 43 games dating back to May 18.
Next Game (Sunday, July 7): Gwinnett vs. Durham, 1:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Huascar Ynoa (1-2, 6.44 ERA) for the Stripers vs. LHP Jalen Beeks (0-0, 1.93 ERA) for the Bulls. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 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.