Bulls Blank G-Braves 4-0

DURHAM - The Durham Bulls shut out the Gwinnett Braves 4-0 Sunday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park to take a 2-0 advantage in the four-game series and a two-game lead in the International League South.

Gwinnett drops to 76-60 as Durham improves to 78-58. Syracuse defeated Lehigh Valley 3-1 on Sunday and closed to within 2.5 games of the Wild Card-leading G-Braves.

Bulls pitcher Jeremy Hellickson pitched eight innings of shutout ball, limiting Gwinnett to just one hit while fanning 12 batters. Dale Thayer finished out the game, allowing one hit in the ninth.

Bobby Brownlie picked up the loss for Gwinnett as he allowed three earned runs on six hits in four innings.

Brian Barton recorded both of Gwinnett’s hits. He was 2-for-3 on the night. The G-Braves’ two hits mark their lowest single-game hit total of the season.

The Bulls and G-Braves meet in Game Three of the four-game series Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Gwinnett will throw right-hander Todd Redmond (9-6, 4.24 ERA), who will face former Braves left-hander Jeff Bennett (1-1, 6.35 ERA).




SCORING RECAP

First Inning (1-0, DUR)
--DUR--Fernando Perez doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a single by Reid Brignac and scored on a sacrifice fly by Joe Dillon.

Third Inning (3-0, DUR)
--DUR--Elliot Johnson doubled to lead off the inning and Fernando Perez walked to put runners on first and second. Reid Brignac grounded into a force out at third. Jon Weber doubled to score Perez and move Brignac to third. Justin Ruggiano walked to load the bases and Matt Joyce walked to score Brignac.

Sixth Inning (4-0, DUR)
--DUR--Matt Joyce led off with a walk, moved to second on a walk by Shawn Riggans and scored on a single by Elliot Johnson.