Durham Bulls Lose To Gwinnett Braves 7-1

[Via email from the Durham Bulls' broadcaster Neil Solondz.]

Chris Richard's RBI single in the fourth tied the game at one, but it was the only run Durham got in a 7-1 loss to the Gwinnett Braves. Richard singled home Matt Joyce, who had singled and stole second. Richard now leads the Bulls with 16 RBI.

Durham, playing shorthanded with Adam Kennedy traded to Oakland earlier in the day, had a chance to take the lead in the sixth. Jon Weber doubled to right center against Charlie Morton (3-2) and moved to third as Reid Brignac grounded to first. With the infield in, Morton struck out Ray Sadler, and then fanned Joyce for the final out to end the rally. The Bulls had just two baserunners over the next three innings.

Gwinnett then put together the winning rally in the sixth against Wade Davis (3-1) and the Durham bullpen. Jones singled to center on the ground and Barbaro Canizares walked after Jones stole second. Randy Choate then entered and walked Brooks Conrad. With the bases loaded, Van Pope hit a ground ball over the mound that Brignac dove for, smothered, but flipped past second base with the glove hand for an RBI single and a 2-1 Braves lead.

With the infield now drawn in JC Holt then lined a single just beyond Brignac's reach for a 3-1 lead. Dewon Day then came in and Alvin Colina singled to the hole at short past a diving Brignac for a 4-1 lead before Day got a double play ball and another ground out to end the frame.

Jason Isringhausen came on in the seventh. He got the first two outs before Gwinnett put together three hits and a walk to score three times. Isringhausen, who pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, may have deserved a better fate. Two of the hits were doubles that just eluded Matt Joyce's glove in center field.

Durham had just six hits off Morton, who went eight innings. Richard, who was 2-for-4, had the only multi-hit game.

Durham (16-12) is a half game behind Norfolk in the South Division. The Bulls, 1-2 on a six-game road trip, look to bounce back Saturday as Carlos Hernandez (0-2) takes the mound. Coverage on 99.9 the Fan begins at 6:40 with first pitch at 7 p.m.