LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Gwinnett Braves threatened to pile up runs throughout the night Saturday at Coolray Field, but could not deliver a decisive blow in a 4-1 loss to the Durham Bulls.
The G-Braves (1-2) managed two runners on base in three innings but failed to convert each time, as Bulls’ right-handed starter Matt Buschmann (W, 1-0) and right-handed reliever Jim Miller (H, 1) consistently escaped trouble.
Gwinnett scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit. Shortstop Elmer Reyes drew a leadoff walk and dashed to third when Buschmann’s pickoff throw sailed down the right field line. Reyes came home to tie the game on the next pitch when third baseman Sean Kazmar grounded out to shortstop.
Kazmar also singled with two outs in the sixth and became one of nine Gwinnett runners stranded for the game. The G-Braves were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Despite the offensive struggles, right-handed reliever Kanekoa Texeira (L, 0-1) kept Gwinnett within a run into the ninth inning. Over his first four innings, he allowed a run on three hits, walked four and struck out two. However, he walked two batters in the ninth and both came around to score when designated hitter Corey Brown doubled to left field off of left-hander Donnie Veal.
Veal struck out center fielder Taylor Motter to end the top half of the ninth, and Bulls left-hander Jordan Norberto (S, 1) set the G-Braves down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
The Bulls (2-1) pushed across the go-ahead run against Texeira in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to center field by Motter that drove in right fielder Joey Butler, who had reached on a one-out walk.
Still, Durham had its own struggles with runners on base. The Bulls left two runners on in three separate innings and stranded 11 total, going 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
G-Braves’ right-handed starter Williams Perez got off to a rocky start in his Triple-A debut. The first three batters he faced reached on two walks and a run-scoring single by Bulls’ third baseman Jake Elmore. His hit to center drove in second baseman Ryan Brett to put Durham ahead 1-0.
Perez settled down thereafter. He worked around a single in the second and two more singles in the third unscathed. Durham loaded the bases in the fourth, but Perez got first baseman Vince Belnome to hit sharply into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
In a game highlighted by pitching and defense, catcher Matt Kennelly was the only G-Braves’ hitter with more than one hit. In his first game with Gwinnett since May 9, 2013, the Western Australia native doubled in the third inning and singled in the seventh to finish 2-for-4.
For Durham, Elmore finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and Brown went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
The G-Braves and Bulls will finish their series at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at Coolray Field. Right-hander Matt Wisler (0-0, 0.00 ERA), Atlanta’s No. 2 prospect according to MLB.com, will make his first start in a G-Braves’ uniform. The Braves acquired him as part of the trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton, Jr. to the San Diego Padres on April 5. Righty Andrew Bellatti (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start on the mound for Durham. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM.
The series finale is also the first Sunday Funday of the season. Fans will have the chance to participate in Pre-Game Catch on the Field for the first 20 minutes after the gates open at 1:00 p.m. Kids will also be able to run the bases following the game, and Journey cover band Departure will play a post-game concert. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
