LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Gwinnett Braves (62-76) took sole possession of third place in the International League South Division with an 8-1 win over the Durham Bulls (71-67) on Wednesday night at Coolray Field. Gwinnett swept the two-game series, outscoring the Bulls 15-2.<br />
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In his final start of the 2014 campaign, G-Braves' right-hander Cody Martin (W, 7-8) was dominant. He tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out nine. He earned his first win since July 5 and turned in his team-leading 13th quality start of the season.<br />
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Gwinnett backed Martin early, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Todd Cunningham drew a two-out walk from Bulls starter Alex Colome and scored on an RBI double by Christian Bethancourt.<br />
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The G-Braves piled it on, scoring two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Donnie Murphy drilled a double to left-center field and scored on an RBI single by Sean Kazmar. Kazmar later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Boggs. In the fifth, Cunningham singled, moved to second base on a hit batter and scored on an RBI single by Joey Terdoslavich.<br />
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Kazmar ignited another rally in the fifth to put the game out of reach. He recorded his third hit of the game, moved to second on a fielding error that allowed Elmer Reyes to reach and scored on a two-run double by Boggs. Jose Constanza drove in the final run of the frame, connecting for a sacrifice fly scoring Boggs for a 7-0 lead.<br />
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Martin's lone blemish came in the top of the seventh inning. IL midseason All-Star Mikie Mahtook connected for his 10th home run of the season on a 2-2 pitch to cut the lead to 7-1.<br />
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Cunningham added another run with an RBI single in the eighth, and the Gwinnett bullpen shut down Durham the rest of the way. Left-hander Ryan Buchter struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning, and right-hander Carlos Fisher struck out the side in a scoreless ninth.<br />
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Colome (L, 7-5) took the loss for Durham, allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings.<br />
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Offensively for the G-Braves, Bethancourt went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Kazmar went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Cunningham also posted a three-hit game, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Boggs went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.<br />
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Durham was stymied for the second straight night, held to a total of three hits on Wednesday. Mahtook finished 1-for-4 with the homer and one RBI.<br />
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After a scheduled off day on Thursday, the Gwinnett Braves open a two-game series against the Charlotte Knights on Friday at Coolray Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (0-6, 6.23) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves, while the Knights will counter with right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (12-8, 4.19). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call at 6:50 PM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app. <br />
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Friday's game, sponsored by 12Stone, is another "Friday Fireworks" night at Coolray Field. Fans are invited to stick around after the game for the best fireworks show in Gwinnett County presented by WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta and Dollywood
