DURHAM, NC – Limited to only one hit through the first six innings, the Gwinnett Stripers (75-54) erupted for eight runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Durham Bulls (69-61) 8-5 on Friday night in game one of a three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The game was called after seven innings due to heavy rain. With the win, the International League South Division-leading Stripers trimmed their magic number to clinch a Governors’ Cup playoff spot to four.
Scoring Recap: Dalton Kelly made it 1-0 Durham in the second inning with an RBI single off Gwinnett starting pitcher Tucker Davidson. In the sixth, the Bulls pushed the lead to 5-0 on the strength of RBI singles by Rocky Gale and Nathan Lukes and a two-run double by Emilio Bonifacio. The game changed drastically in the seventh as Cristian Pache crushed a three-run double to right-center off Anthony Banda to cut the deficit to 5-3. Luis Marte followed with an RBI single off Peter Fairbanks to make it 5-4, and three batters later, Johan Camargo ripped a two-run double to right to give the Stripers a 6-5 lead. Pedro Florimon and Lucas Duda each followed with RBI singles to make it 8-5.
Stripers Stats: Davidson went 4.0 innings with six hits, one earned run, two walks, and five strikeouts. Tyler Matzek tossed 1.1 innings with three hits and three earned runs. Jeremy Walker (W, 2-1) pitched 1.2 innings with two hits, one earned run, and two strikeouts. Offensively, Florimon went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Pache went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Camargo went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Bulls Stats: Starting pitcher Jose De Leon worked 4.0 scoreless innings with one hit and six strikeouts. Banda pitched 2.1 innings with two hits and four earned runs. Fairbanks (L, 0-2) tossed two thirds of an inning with five hits and four earned runs. At the plate, Bonifacio was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Postgame Notes: Ryan LaMarre was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning to extend his on-base streak to 30 games, the longest active streak in the IL. Camargo is batting .433 with five extra-base hits and eight RBIs in seven games since being optioned by Atlanta on August 16. Florimon is batting .355 with 35 RBIs in 38 games since the Triple-A All-Star Break.
Next Game (Saturday, August 24): Gwinnett at Durham, 6:35 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. RHP Ian Anderson (1-1, 5.63 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Ricardo Pinto (9-5, 4.35 ERA) for the Bulls. Radio Broadcast: 6:05 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.