LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (35-27) lost the finale of a three-game series 10-2 to the Durham Bulls (36-26) on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field. The Stripers held an early 1-0 lead, but Durham scored 10 runs from the second through ninth innings to win the rain-shortened series two games to one.
Scoring Recap: The Stripers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Sean Kazmar Jr. scoring Rafael Ortega. Durham tied it up at 1-1 in the second on an RBI single by Joe McCarthy and took a 2-1 lead in the third on a sacrifice fly by Nick Solak. RBI singles by Solak, McCarthy, and Jason Coats raised the Bulls’ lead to 5-1 in the fifth. An RBI double by Mike Brosseau and three-run home run by Michael Perez (1) made it 9-1 Durham in the sixth. Perez (2) added another solo homer in the ninth to make it 10-1. A ninth-inning RBI single by Alex Jackson cut the deficit to 10-2.
Stripers Stats: Kyle Wright (L, 3-4) yielded three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out one over 4.2 innings. Jason Creasy allowed three runs on six hits over 0.2 innings. Huascar Ynoa pitched 2.2 innings with one run on one hit and two strikeouts. Wes Parsons allowed a run on two hits over 1.0 inning. Offensively, Andres Blanco went 2-for-4 with a double.
Bulls Stats: Brendan McKay (W, 2-0) went 5.0 innings with one run on three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Jake Faria and Tyler Zombro combined on 4.0 one-run innings in relief. Perez, playing on a rehab assignment for Tampa Bay, went 2-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs. Joey Wendle, also rehabbing for Tampa Bay, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Solak went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and McCarthy went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Postgame Notes: The game included a 39-minute rain delay prior to the bottom of the sixth. Blanco extended his hitting streak to eight games with a first-inning double, while Ortega extended his hitting streak to seven games with a third-inning single. The Stripers dropped to 3-13 in games without hitting a home run this season.
Next Game (Tuesday, June 11): Gwinnett at Lehigh Valley, 7:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park. RHP Bryse Wilson (3-5, 3.98 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Enyel De Los Santos (2-2, 3.65 ERA) for the IronPigs. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 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.