LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Adam Duvall’s fifth-inning grand slam led the Gwinnett Stripers (35-25), playing as the Xolos de Gwinnett for the second Copa de la Diversión game this season, past the Durham Bulls (34-26) 6-1 on Thursday at Coolray Field. Kolby Allardmatched a career high with 8.0 one-run innings as Gwinnett regained sole possession of first place in the International League South Division.
Scoring Recap: Durham took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Jason Coats (9) to right-center off Allard. In the fifth, Duvall (18) crushed a grand slam to center off Aaron Slegers to make it 4-1 Gwinnett. The lead grew to 6-1 in the sixth as Jonathan Morales (1) hit a solo home run to left off Slegers and Andres Blanco followed with an RBI double scoring Luis Marte.
Stripers Stats: Allard (W, 5-3) went 8.0 innings with one run on six hits, no walks, and seven strikeouts to earn his team-leading fifth win. Jason Creasy pitched a scoreless ninth with one strikeout. Duvall went 2-for-4 with the grand slam – Gwinnett’s fourth this season – and four RBIs. Morales, playing in his first Triple-A game of the year, went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and one RBI. Blanco went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Bulls Stats: Slegers (L, 2-4) took the loss with six runs – five earned – on eight hits over 3.1 innings. Coats went 1-for-3 with a homer and one RBI.
Quote: “It was nice to go out and turn in eight innings,” Allard said. “There have been times where I haven’t put it together, but today I was able to get it done.”
Postgame Notes: Allard turned in the longest start by a Gwinnett pitcher this season, matching his career high for the third time. He las threw 8.0 innings in a win on May 13, 2018 vs. Norfolk. Morales is the 14th different player to homer for Gwinnett this season. Gwinnett leads the International League with 105 home runs in 60 games.
Next Game (Friday, June 7): Durham vs. Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Patrick Weigel (0-0, 2.63 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Jose De Leon (0-0, 3.38 ERA) for the Bulls. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM “The Other Side of the River.”
# # #
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.