G-Braves end scoring drought, knock off Durham

LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Gwinnett Braves ended a season-long 28-inning scoreless streak and snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday night with a 3-1 win over the Durham Bulls at Coolray Field. <br /> <br /> Right-hander Gus Schlosser (W, 6-5) continued his recent brilliance on the mound, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings. He allowed only four hits while striking out seven. Schlosser is 3-4 with a 2.56 ERA since the start of June.<br /> <br /> Atlanta Braves' catcher Evan Gattis, playing in his third rehab game with Gwinnett, notched his first hit of the assignment in the bottom of the first inning. Facing Bulls' starter Alex Colome, he legged out an infield single to shortstop Ray Olmedo. Olmedo fielded the ball deep in the hole and made an errant jump throw to first base, allowing Gattis to take second base. Gattis finished the night 1-for-4 with the single, as well as a line-out to third base and two strikeouts.<br /> <br /> The G-Braves (45-56) wouldn't score in that first inning, but finally broke through in the third against Colome. Ozzie Martinez reached on a single up the middle to start the inning and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Todd Cunningham. Two batters later, Phil Gosselin singled on a sharp ground ball that scooted just out of the reach of Bulls' second baseman Mike Fontenot, sending Martinez home for a 1-0 Gwinnett lead.<br /> <br /> Colome (L, 4-3) allowed just that one run on four hits over 6.0 innings. He walked three and struck out eight.<br /> <br /> Clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth, the G-Braves created some breathing room. With left-hander Jeff Beliveau on the mound, Gosselin and Joey Terdoslavich reached on back-to-back singles. After Beliveau struck out the next two hitters, Sean Kazmar laced a clutch two-run double to right-center to make it 3-0 Gwinnett.<br /> <br /> Left-hander Luis Avilan (H, 1) threw a scoreless eighth inning in his Triple-A debut, but it took two Gwinnett pitchers to navigate the ninth. Right-hander Juan Jaime (H, 1) walked three and allowed an RBI triple to Jayson Nix before exiting with two outs. Right-hander Pedro Beato (S, 3) entered with the bases loaded and retired Mayo Acosta on a pop-up to Martinez at short, ending the game.<br /> <br /> Gosselin finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for the G-Braves, while Kazmar went 1-for-4 with the double and two RBIs. Terdoslavich extended his hitting streak to 10 games by going 1-for-4 with a run scored.<br /> <br /> Nix led Durham (55-45) with a perfect 4-for-4 night including a double, triple and RBI. Robby Price added a 2-for-4 effort.<br /> <br /> The Gwinnett Braves and the Durham Bulls play the finale of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 2:05 PM. Left-hander Daniel Rodriguez (4-11, 5.24) will start for the G-Braves, while the Bulls will counter with left-hander Mike Montgomery (9-1, 3.21). Tony Schiavone will have the play-by-play call beginning at 1:50 PM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app. The game will also be televised on the MeTV network, WSB-TV Channel 2.2 with broadcasters Van Earl Wright and Dave Lezotte.<br /> <br /> Sunday, July 20 is "Christmas in July," featuring a special appearance from the one and only Santa Claus. The G-Braves are teaming up with the Georgia Patriot Guard Riders to host a Toy Drive prior to the 2:05 PM game. All fans that bring a new, unused toy to the Coolray Field Ticket Office will receive two (2) Infield Box tickets for the price of one for that day's game (limit one redemption per person). All toys collected will go to the National Guard's Christmas Assistance program, serving the children of active-service military members. It's also "Sunday Family FunDay" at the ballpark, featuring the Pre-Game Catch in the Outfield and the Post-Game Kids Base Run sponsored by Kid-to-Kid Buford. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com to purchase.

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