FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2026
Contact: info@durhambulls.com
Durham, NC --- A four-run second inning propelled the Gwinnett Stripers past the Durham Bulls 7-3 on Thursday night at the DBAP.
After Brody Hopkins (L, 4-8) struck out the first six outs of the game, Hopkins didn't escape the third. Gwinnett (16-13) put seven straight hitters aboard with one out in the 31-pitch inning from Hopkins, who was chased after a walk to Brewer Hicklen. By that time, the Stripers had scored four times, including two on a double from Carlos Santana. Logan Workman entered with the bases loaded and one out and escaped further damage thanks to a foul out and pop out.
Jacob Melton homered in the third against Gwinnett starter Lucas Braun (W, 5-2) to make it 4-3, but Durham (19-9) could not muster any further offense.
The Bulls scored twice in the second for the game's first runs. Jake Cave rolled an infield single inside the first base line to score Tatem Levins, then a safety squeeze bunt from Homer Bush scored Oliver Dunn for a 2-0 lead.
Braun worked six innings en route to his fifth win in 10 Triple-A appearances. Three Gwinnett relievers tossed a shutout ball to close out the win.
The series continues Friday night with Jesse Scholtens (1-2, 5.54) expected to start against Owen Murphy (4-6, 3.66) at 6:45 PM ET.
Notes: The Bulls have led the International League in the second half every day thus far, but will likely be joined by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the top of the standings heading into Friday. The RailRiders were leading Iowa 6-0 after seven innings on Thursday night, and would forge a first place tie with a win... Bulls reliever Cam Hill faced off in the ninth inning against Gwinnett's Carlos Santana. Santana was batting cleanup for Cleveland on July 26, 2020 when Hill made his major league debut for the Indians... Friday's Durham starter Jesse Scholtens and Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy were two-year teammates in college at Wright State. Murphy is with the Stripers on a major league rehab and has caught two of the first three games of the series.
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