Braves MiLB recap: Gwinnett begins the Final Stretch run against Durham

With the Mississippi Braves on their way home to try and wrap up the Double-A South championship, the Gwinnett Stripers were the only team in action on the Atlanta Braves farm. The Stripers — who were rained out on Wednesday — doubled up against the Durham Bulls in a pair of closely contested ballgames.

Unfortunately, neither turned out to victorious. The quest for the Final Stretch title is underway. Here’s how it went down Thursday on the farm.

Gwinnett at Durham

Game 1: Durham 2, Gwinnett 1

Box score

• Bryce Elder, SP: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Drew Waters, RF: 1-for-3, 1 SB, .242 BA, .713 OPS
• Yolmer Sanchez, 2B: 1-for-3m 1 RBI, .211 BA, .654 OPS

It was another solid outing from Bryce Elder, who faced a whirlwind of rumors about a possible call-up earlier in the week. He landed 52 of his 83 pitches for strikes and was on the wrong end of a tough-luck loss as the Gwinnett bats couldn’t get anything going. Elder likely has one start left on the year but has a 2.20 ERA after Thursday’s performance. Daysbel Hernandez pitched the final inning, also allowing a run across.

Drew Waters picked up a hit and stole his 28th base. Yolmer Sanchez tacked on the Stripers’ lone run in the top of the seventh, but it was too little too late. The Stripers had five hits on the night, all of which were singles.

Game 2: Durham 4, Gwinnett 0

Box score

• Drew Waters, CF: 1-for-3, .242 BA, .711 OPS
• Ryan Goins, SS: 2-for-3, .236 BA, . 652 OPS
• Jose Rodriguez, SP: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Gwinnett’s bats just weren’t alive in either game Thursday evening. The extra-base hangover carried into Game 2 as the Stripers mustered just four hits, all of which were singles. Drew Waters got a hit as he did in the opener and Ryan Goins got a pair of singles. New Striper Chadwick Tromp recorded the other hit.

Jose Rodriguez was throwing relatively well until the wheels came off in a three-run fourth. Jesse Biddle pitched a scoreless fifth to lower his ERA to 2.43 and Jay Flaa pitched the final frame walking one and striking out one.

Both Mississippi and Gwinnett are back in action tomorrow.