DURHAM -- The Durham Bulls certainly are making the most of their crucial four-game series against Gwinnett, the team they are battling for the lead in the International League's South Division race.
Bulls starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing Gwinnett's Brian Barton to single, but Durham held on for a 4-0 victory at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Sunday.
The victory pushed Durham ahead of the Braves by two games for the South Division lead.
Hellickson (5-1) struck out a career-high 12 in eight innings before giving way to Dale Thayer to finish out the game for the Bulls. It was Hellickson's third straight effort with double-digit strikeouts. In 20 innings during this stretch, Hellickson has allowed seven hits, four earned runs and recorded 32 strikeouts.
The Bulls, who won their seventh straight to match their season high, got off to a quick start against the Braves. Durham leadoff hitter Fernando Perez opened the game with a double and later scored from third on a sacrifce fly by Joe Dillon. Perez also picked up his seventh stolen base of the season in the game.
Durham added two more in the third with an RBI-double from Jon Weber and a bases-loaded walk to Matt Joyce to make the score 3-0.
The Bulls added their final run in the sixth with an Elliot Johnson single up the middle driving in Joyce from second. Four of Durham's seven hits in the game were doubles.
Bobby Brownlie took the loss for Gwinnett, as he allowed three earned runs on six hits in four innings. Barton got both hits for the Braves, who set a season low in hits in a game.
Durham left seven runners on base, while Gwinnett stranded three.
Durham shortstop Reid Brignac was ejected in the seventh after striking out.
The teams play again today at 7:05 p.m., as Jeff Bennett (1-0) will take the mound for Durham against Todd Redmond (9-6).
Bulls 4, Braves 0
GWI ab r h bi DUR ab r h bi
Burke 2b 4 0 0 0 Perez cf 3 2 2 0
Timmons 3b 4 0 0 0 Brignac ss 4 1 1 0
Jones lf 4 0 0 0 Olmedo 2b 0 0 0 0
Conrad dh 3 0 0 0 Dillon 3b 3 0 0 1
Canizares 1b 3 0 0 0 Weber dh 4 0 1 1
Hernandez ss 3 0 0 0 Ruggiano lf 3 0 0 0
Blanco cf 1 0 0 0 Joyce rf 2 1 1 1
Colina c 3 0 0 0 Richard 1b 4 0 0 0
Barton rf 3 0 2 0 Riggans c 3 0 0 0
Johnson ss 3 0 2 1
Totals 28 0 2 0 Totals 29 4 7 4
Gwinnett 000 000 000--0
Durham 102 001 00x--4
LOB--Gwinnett 3, Durham 7. DP--Durham 1. 2B--Perez (3), Joyce (34), Johnson (8), Weber (46). SF--Dillon. SB--Perez (7). CS--Joyce (5).
Gwinnett IP H R ER BB SO
Brownlie L,4-2 4 6 3 3 3 2
Perez 3 1 1 1 2 5
BuenoF 1 0 0 0 0 0
Durham
Hellickson W,5-1 8 1 0 0 2 12
Thayer 1 1 0 0 0 1
Ejected--Brignac. Umpires--Home, Jason Bradley; First, Chris Conroy; Third, Arthur Thigpen. T--2:45. Att.--8,065.
