DURHAM, NC – The Gwinnett Stripers (76-55) defeated the Durham Bulls (70-62) 6-2 on Sunday night in the finale of a three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Kyle Wright tossed 5.0 scoreless innings to earn his 10^th win of the season, and the Stripers reduced their magic number to clinch a spot in the Governors’ Cup Playoffs to two.

 

Scoring Recap: Jack Lopez broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single off Durham starter Sam McWilliams in the second inning. In the third, an RBI single by Johan Camargo pushed the lead to 2-0. The Stripers got an RBI double from Cristian Pache in the fourth, followed by an RBI single from Sean Kazmar Jr. for a 4-0 lead. RBI singles by Camargo and Pedro Florimon raised the lead to 6-0 in the sixth. Durham’s only runs came in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run by Kevin Padlo (9) off Phil Pfeifer.

 

Stripers Stats: Wright (W, 10-4) went 5.0 scoreless innings with five hits, three walks, and four strikeouts, becoming the first Gwinnett pitcher to reach the 10-win mark since Andrew Albers won 12 games in 2017. Chad Sobotka and Grant Dayton combined on 2.1 scoreless innings and four strikeouts. At the plate, Camargo was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Pache was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, Florimon was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, and Kazmar Jr. was 2-for-3 with one RBI.

 

Bulls Stats: McWilliams (L, 1-6) tossed 3.1 innings with six hits, four earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. Arturo Reyes pitched 3.2 innings with four hits and two unearned runs. Daniel Robertson went 3-for-4, and Padlo went 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.

 

Postgame Notes: With the win, the Stripers hold a 2.5-game lead over Charlotte for first place in the International League South Division. Gwinnett’s magic number to clinch the IL South is six. Since being optioned by Atlanta on August 16, Camargo has hit safely in all nine games with Gwinnett, batting .474. Florimon has hit safely in nine straight games and is batting .356 in 40 games since the Triple-A All-Star Break. Wright is 7-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 11 starts since June 14.

 

Next Game (Monday, August 26): Gwinnett vs. Norfolk, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Touki Toussaint (1-4, 6.15 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Tom Eshelman (2-2, 3.64 ERA) for the Tides. 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 11^th 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.