IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

G-Braves Hold Off Bulls, 3-2

August 1, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


DURHAM, NC -The Gwinnett Braves (55-51) held off a ninth-inning rally and edged the Durham Bulls (52-55) by a 3-2 score Saturday night in game two of the three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The game featured another fine outing by G-Braves' starting pitcher Tyrell Jenkins (W, 3-1), who lowered his ERA to 2.03 with a strong 6.0-inning performance. Jenkins allowed one earned run on five hits and four walks and struck out a season-high eight batters, one better than his seven-strikeout effort with Double-A Mississippi on May 22 at Jacksonville.

Jenkins was staked to an early lead as the G-Braves plated a run in the top of the first inning off Durham starter and former G-Brave Scott Diamond (L, 9-5). Eric Young, Jr. lined a one-out single to left and moved to third on a double off the left-field wall by Joey Terdoslavich. Christian Bethancourt followed with a groundout to short scoring Young for a 1-0 lead.

Durham tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings, playing with Durham on a rehab assignment, pounded a one-out double to left. Jenkins then walked Corey Brown and gave up a single to J.P. Arencibia to load the bases. Richie Shaffer scored Jennings with a sacrifice fly to center, knotting the game at 1-1.

But with one out in the top of the fifth, Gwinnett's Mycal Jones drilled a 1-0 fastball from Diamond over the wall in left field for a solo home run. His fourth blast of the season put the G-Braves ahead 2-1. Mallex Smith then singled with two outs, stole second base and scored on a single to right-center by Young for a 3-1 lead.

Durham rallied in the bottom of the ninth thanks to two costly errors by Gwinnett. With right-hander Ryan Kelly on the mound, Ryan Brett connected on a one-out double to left. Taylor Motter followed with a sharp ground ball to third baseman Barrett Kleinknecht who threw errantly to first base, putting runners on the corners. With Brown at the plate, Kelly tried to pick Motter off first, but threw the ball away, allowing Brett to score and Motter to move to third. With the tying run at third base, Kelly recovered to strike out Brown and Arencibia to end the game.

After the 6.0 innings by Jenkins, right-handers Vin Mazzaro (H, 1) and Peter Moylan (H, 3) each threw scoreless innings in relief. Kelly (S, 8) went 1.0 inning with one hit, one unearned run and two strikeouts for his team-leading eighth save.

Diamond pitched 4.2 innings for the Bulls with eight hits, three earned runs, one walk and six strikeouts. Right-hander Jhan Marinez worked 2.2 innings with two hits and four strikeouts. Left-handers C.J. Riefenhauser and Jordan Norberto combined on 1.2 scoreless, hitless innings.

Young had the big offensive night for the G-Braves, going 3-for-4 with a double, run scored and an RBI. Smith added two hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jones' fourth homer of the season was his only hit in a 1-for-4 night, and Terdoslavich extended his season-best hitting streak to 11 games with a 1-for-3 effort that included his sixth double.

Arencibia paced Durham with a 2-for-5 night.

The G-Braves and Bulls meet in the finale of the three-game series in Durham on Sunday, first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Left-hander Greg Smith (3-4, 2.53) will start for Gwinnett, while Durham will counter with right-hander Bradin Hagens (1-2, 3.10). Tony Schiavone has the call beginning at 4:30 p.m. on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com.

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics



International League Stories from August 1, 2015


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