LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers secured a convincing 3-0 victory over the Durham Bulls on Tuesday night at Coolray Field, thanks to an impressive performance by starter Hurston Waldrep, who pitched 7.0 scoreless innings. This win marks the Stripers’ second consecutive victory and continues their strong start in the series opener, bringing their record to 13-15, while the Bulls fall to 16-10.
The Stripers took the lead in the third inning with a solo home run from Matthew Batten, his seventh of the season, hitting from the No. 9 slot. They extended their lead later in the same inning with an RBI single from Jonathan Ornelas. In the eighth inning, Gwinnett added an insurance run courtesy of a two-out RBI single from Eddys Leonard.
Key contributors to this victory included Waldrep (7-8), who allowed only five hits and struck out eight batters during his stellar outing. John Brebbia wrapped up the game with 2.0 scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Batten led the offensive charge with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and an RBI. Luke Waddell also contributed significantly, going 3-for-4 with a double, while Carlos Rodriguez added two hits.
Noteworthy achievements from the game included Waldrep surpassing six innings for only the third time in his career and the Stripers recording their fourth shutout of the season. This game also marked the fourth time this season that the Bulls have been held scoreless.
Looking ahead, the Gwinnett Stripers will face the Durham Bulls again on Wednesday, July 30, at 7:05 p.m. The game promises to be exciting as Gwinnett’s RHP Davis Daniel (5-7, 3.52 ERA) takes the mound against Durham’s Taj Bradley, who will be making his Triple-A debut. The Stripers will celebrate the Hispanic and Latino communities of Gwinnett County through their theme night, transforming into the Xolos de Gwinnett. Additionally, it’s Wet Nose Wednesday, where fans can bring their dogs for free admission with a paid owner.
This performance showcases the potential and skill of the Gwinnett Stripers as they continue to build momentum and engage with their community in meaningful ways.