Sunday was another tough day on the road for both of the Triangle’s pro baseball teams, but it was a lot tougher for the Carolina Mudcats than the Durham Bulls.
- Photo courtesy Durham Bulls
- Bulls pitcher Brian Baker
Elih Villanueva didn’t give up a hit and picked up the victory as the Jacksonville Suns nipped the Mudcats 1-0 in a game shortened by rain after 4 ½ innings. And the Durham Bulls committed a season-worst four errors in a 4-1 loss to the Gwinnett Braves.
It may not matter a lot to the Bulls, whose magic number to clinch the International League’s South Division title is nine with 23 games left in the season. The Mudcats’ “tragic number” is 10 with the Tennessee Smokies, who lead the Southern League’s North Division.
The Mudcats’ next home game is Wednesday night against the Mobile BayBears, while the Bulls’ next home game is Aug. 24 against the Norfolk Tides.
Gwinnett 4, Bulls 1
Joe Thurston homered and singled with a pair of RBI as the Braves won their second straight against the Bulls.
Cory Gearrin (2-4) was the winning pitcher while Craig Kimbrel had his 19th save.
Brian Baker (7-4) had a quality start for the Bulls, going six innings and allowing three runs — one earned — on five hits with four strikeouts against one walk.
Elliot Johnson led the Bulls with two hits.
Jacksonville 1, Mudcats 0 (4½ inn., rain)
Villanueva struck out three and walked two in improving to 13-4 on the season.
Scott Carroll (3-8) took the hard-luck loss.
Vinny Rottino’s RBI double in the third was the biggest of the Suns’ five hits.
Monday’s games
Mudcats at Jacksonville, 7:05 p.m.
Tom Cochran (L, 7-5, 2.93) vs. Andrew Miller (L, 1-7, 5.98)
Bulls at Charlotte, 7:15 p.m.
TBA vs. TBA
