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Gwinnett Stripers

Gwinnett 11, Durham 1

August 26, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


DURHAM, NC - Behind a 16-hit attack, the Gwinnett Braves (61-72) routed the Durham Bulls (57-77) by an 11-1 score on Friday night in the opening game of the three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Mel Rojas Jr. fell a single shy of the cycle, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, triple, home run and three RBIs.

With the win, the G-Braves took a half-game lead for first place in the International League South Division. Charlotte (61-73) dropped to second place with a 7-6 loss to Norfolk in 14 innings late Friday night.

Gwinnett plated two runs in the top of the first inning and never trailed in the game. Lead-off batter Emilio Bonifacio tripled off Durham starter Austin Pruitt and, one out later, Rojas pounded his 10th homer of the season, a two-run shot to right.

The G-Braves added four runs in the top of the second off Pruitt. Ronnier Mustelier doubled and scored on a double to left by Daniel Castro for a 3-0 lead. Castro moved to third on a single to right by Braeden Schlehuber and scored on a single to right by Bonifacio. Reid Brignac pushed the lead to 5-0 with an RBI single to center scoring Schlehuber. Rio Ruiz capped the frame with a single to right scoring Bonifacio for a 6-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Pruitt walked Brignac to begin the inning and then gave up an RBI double to Rojas, raising the G-Braves' lead to 7-0. Rojas later crossed the plate on an RBI single by Blake Lalli.

Gwinnett ran the lead to 10-0 in the top of the eighth against reliever Ryan Garton when Mustelier and Castro reached on back-to-back singles and scored on ground outs by Schlehuber and Bonifacio.

After seven scoreless innings from the combination of starter Tyrell Jenkins and reliever Stephen Janas, the Bulls finally scored in the bottom of the eighth as Richie Shaffer lined a one-out double to left off Janas and scored on a single to right by Jake Goebbert, cutting the lead to 10-1.

But the G-Braves got the run right back in the top of the ninth when Rojas tripled to deep right-center off reliever Steve Geltz and scored on an infield single by Ruiz.

Jenkins (W, 7-3) went 5.0 scoreless innings with five hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Janas worked 3.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, one walk and three strikeouts. Madison Younginer pitched the bottom of the ninth with one hit and one strikeout.

Pruitt (L, 8-10) was charged with 10 hits and eight earned runs over 5.0 innings of work. He walked one and struck out four. Neil Wagner went 2.0 innings with two hits and three strikeouts. Garton pitched 1.0 inning with two hits and two earned runs. Geltz worked 1.0 inning with two hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.

In addition to the big night for Rojas, Ruiz was also 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Bonifacio and Castro each went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Mustelier was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

For Durham, Daniel Robertson was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

The G-Braves and Bulls meet Saturday night in game two of the three-game series in Durham. Gwinnett starts right-hander Chris Ellis (4-5, 6.35), while the Bulls counter with right-hander Alex Cobb (0-1, 8.18), who continues a rehab assignment for the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Tony Schiavone will have the broadcast of the game beginning at 6:05 p.m. on 97.7 FM.

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