Jeremy Hellickson continued his early-season success with a stellar outing, and the Durham Bulls have clinched a winning season-opening road trip.
Hellickson (pictured) sat down 14 straight Gwinnett Braves in one stretch as the Bulls beat them 3-1, clinching the three-game series by winning for the second night in a row.
The Carolina Mudcats were idle on Tuesday night. The Mudcats will bring home a 4-1 record Wednesday night at 7:15 when they take on the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, at Five County Stadium.
Durham will play the finale of the Gwinnett series Wednesday night, and then return home on Thursday night at 7:05 to take on the Norfolk Tides in the Bulls’ home opener.
Bulls 3, Gwinnett 1
Hellickson improved to 2-0 by going 6 1/3 innings and allowing the run on four hits, striking out seven with a single walk in his quality start.
Dale Thayer earned his third save of the season to help pin the loss on James Parr (0-1).
Dan Johnson led the Bulls at the plate with his second homer of the season, a sixth-inning solo to make the score 2-0. Johnson and Rashad Eldridge had two hits apiece for the Bulls, while Fernando Perez added an RBI double.
Mitch Jones had three hits including a double for the G-Braves.
The Bulls had a player move before the game, as catcher John Jaso was recalled to Tampa Bay with Craig Albernaz rejoining the club from the paper roster at Hudson Valley.
Wednesday’s games
Bulls at Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m.
Heath Phillips (L, 0-0, 5.79) vs. Chris Resop (R, 0-1, 2.45)
Montgomery at Mudcats, 7:15 p.m.
Alexander Torres (L, 0-0, 2.25) vs. Matt Klinker (R, 1-0, 1.80)
