DURHAM, North Carolina – Shut out over the first eight innings, the Gwinnett Stripers (16-14, 54-50) scored three runs in the top of the ninth and had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, but the Durham Bulls (20-9, 48-56) held on to win 4-3 on Friday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The series is tied 2-2.
Decisive Plays: Jake Cave broke a scoreless tie on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth, lifting a solo home run (3) to right field for a 1-0 Bulls lead. An inning later it was Cave again, this time lining a two-run double into right-center field to make it 3-0 Durham. The Bulls scored an insurance run in the eighth on an error to go up 4-0. In the ninth, the Stripers loaded the bases against Evan Reifert and ended the shutout on a walk drawn by Brett Wisely. The next batter DaShawn Keirsey Jr. sent an opposite-field single to left to score two, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Reifert was replaced by Alexander Alberto, who struck out pinch hitter Jair Camargo to end the game.
Key Contributors: Keirsey Jr. (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Wisely (2-for-2, RBI) combined to drive in Gwinnett’s three runs. For Durham, starer Jesse Scholtens (W, 2-2) struck out five over 6.0 four-hit innings. Alberto (S, 4) stranded two for Reifert to hold the lead. Cave went 2-for-4 (1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs).
Noteworthy: Ha-Seong Kim continued his rehab assignment for the Atlanta Braves, leading off and playing shortstop (1-for-4). Hayden Harris struck out three over 1.1 innings in relief, extending his scoreless streak to five games (4.2 IP). Brewer Hicklen, hit by a pitch in the ninth, has reached base safely in 68 of 80 games with the Stripers this season.
Next Game (Saturday, August 1): Gwinnett Stripers at Durham Bulls, 1:05 p.m. ET at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.