G-Braves shut out 2-0 in finale vs. Durham

LAWRENCEVILLE – The Gwinnett Braves (27-28) were unable to scratch across a run Sunday in a 2-0 loss to the Durham Bulls (32-26), preventing their sweep of the three-game series at Coolray Field.
 
The only runs of the game came in the fourth inning against right-handed starter Matt Wisler (L, 3-4). He gave up back-to-back singles to begin the inning before Allan Dykstra stroked a ground-rule double down the right field line that plated the first run. Eugenio Velez followed with a single to right to give Durham a 2-0 advantage.
 
Wisler did not allow another hit beyond that point and retired the final eight batters he faced in a row. He completed 6 innings with two runs on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts in 90 pitches, 57 strikes. Right-hander Ryan Weber threw 2 scoreless innings with a  walk and a hit allowed, and right-hander David Aardsma tossed a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts in his Gwinnett debut.
 
The G-Braves’ best chance to score came in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases against Durham right-handed starter Dylan Floro (W, 6-4). After a leadoff single by Mycal Jones and two flyouts, Eury Perez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Ryan Brett and Jose Peraza lined a ball off of Floro for a single. The Durham starter then exited the game in favor of righty Ronald Belisario (S, 15), who got Cedric Hunter to fly out to right field to end the threat.
 
Gwinnett also had runners on second and third in the sixth inning, but could not push a run across.
 
Overall, Floro pitched 7.2 innings with five hits allowed, no walks and four strikeouts. He also held the first seven batters in the G-Braves’ lineup hitless until Peraza’s liner in the eighth. Joe Benson and Braeden Schlehuber, the bottom two hitters in the order, combined to go 3-for-6 against the righty, including a double by Benson in the third. Benson finished 2-for-3 and was the only G-Braves’ batter to have more than one hit.
 
Belisario completed the final 1 1/3 innings for Durham with two hits allowed. Dykstra and J.P. Arencibia led the Bulls’ offense by both going 2-for-4. Dykstra had an RBI, and Arencibia scored a run.
 
Gwinnett will begin a three-game series against the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, on Monday at Coolray Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.  Left-hander Greg Smith (1-3, 3.41 ERA) will get the start for the G-Braves, while righty Zach Davies (3-3, 2.96 ERA) will go for the Tides, beginning at 6 p.m.