With the Durham Bulls’ position in the Governors’ Cup Playoffs clinched and the Carolina Mudcats already eliminated from the Southern League playoff race, both of the Triangle’s pro baseball teams lost one-run games to Atlanta Braves organization teams on the road Friday night.
- Photo courtesy Durham Bulls
- Bulls infielder Angel Chavez
The Gwinnett Braves finished a two-game series sweep by scoring three in the ninth to beat the Bulls 4-3, the first time in 70 games Durham had blown a ninth-inning lead to lose. And the Mudcats lost to the Mississippi Braves 3-2 in the opener of their three-game set.
Durham now moves on to Charlotte to begin a five-game, two-city series. The Bulls’ next home game is Monday night, while the Mudcats’ next home game is Sept. 3 against the Tennessee Smokies.
Gwinnett 4, Bulls 3
Joe Thurston’s two-out single provided the winning run for the Braves, getting the win for Stephen Marek and sticking Winston Abreu (0-3) with the loss.
Leslie Anderson homered and singled for the Bulls, while Angel Chavez chipped in a pair of hits.
Nate McLouth homered for Gwinnett.
Bobby Livingston got a quality start for Durham, going six innings and allowing a run on five hits with two strikeouts against a walk.
Mississippi 3, Mudcats 2
Tyler Pastornicky homered with two RBI to lead the Braves, who scored all their runs in the fifth inning after Carolina had gotten both its tallies in the fourth.
Sean Henry had two hits and an RBI while Felix Perez tripled with an RBI for the Mudcats.
J.J. Hoover (1-1) was the winning pitcher while Scott Carroll (3-9) took the loss.
Saturday’s games
Bulls at Charlotte, 7:15 p.m.
Aneury Rodriguez (R, 6-5, 3.72) vs. Carlos Torres (R, 9-9, 3.52)
Mudcats at Mississippi, 8:05 p.m.
Tom Cochran (L, 8-5, 2.82) vs. Jacob Thompson (R, 8-9, 4.93)
