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LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Durham Bulls (18-26) quickly jumped on the Gwinnett Stripers (26-18) with a four-run first inning and rode a strong outing from Brody Hopkins to secure an 11-2 victory on Saturday night at Gwinnett Field. The Bulls have taken a 3-2 series lead heading into Sunday’s finale.
The Bulls are playing with joy and verve and poetry pic.twitter.com/HuMF8o3PO6
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) May 17, 2026
Decisive Plays: Durham’s first inning was highlighted by an RBI single from Dom Keegan and a two-run double by Tatem Levins to make it 4-0 and chase Gwinnett starter Lucas Braun (L, 2-2). The Stripers got a run back in the second when a ground ball off the bat of Jair Camargo rolled off the glove of third baseman Raynel Delgado to make it 4-1. Durham tacked on two runs in both the third and fifth innings to make it 8-1. Luke Williams, who pitched the top of the ninth, cranked a solo homer (4) in the bottom of the ninth to make it 11-2.
He does it again ❕❕ Another HR for Kinney https://t.co/eop3iYpttm
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) May 17, 2026
Key Contributors: Williams (1-for-4, homer, RBI) drove in Gwinnett’s only earned run and pitched in relief. Brett Wisely (2-for-4, double) reached three times for the second straight night. For Durham, Hopkins went 4.2 innings (3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO) in a no-decision. Cooper Kinney (3-for-4, 2 homers, 3 RBIs) hit his first two home runs of the season.
Top of the 9th = Pitched
Bottom of the 9th = Home run pic.twitter.com/OwjR5SHmSu— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) May 17, 2026
Noteworthy: Wisely tallied his team-leading 14th double – third most in the International League – as he extended his hitting streak to six games. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. also extended his hitting streak to six games, going 1-for-3. Williams made his second pitching appearance of the season.
Game 2
LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (26-19) surged to leads of 5-0 and 6-1 early but slowly let it slip away to the Durham Bulls (19-26) in a 7-6 loss on Sunday evening at Gwinnett Field. Durham won the series 4-2.
Catch of the day 🎣 pic.twitter.com/AAnzgXZRAW
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) May 17, 2026
Decisive Plays: The Stripers scored first for just the second time this series with a first-inning single by DaShawn Keirsey Jr., but left the bases loaded. In the second inning, Gwinnett plated four runs thanks to RBI singles from Brett Wisely, Brewer Hicklen and Keirsey Jr., as well as a bases-loaded walk by Ben Gamel to make it 5-0. Durham made it 6-1 in the third when Logan Davidson drove in a run, but Gwinnett answered with another RBI from Wisely to make it 6-1. From there, Durham hung up four runs between the fourth and fifth innings to close the gap to 6-5. In the eighth, Tatem Levins lifted a go-ahead homer (5) off James Karinchak (L, 2-2), which proved to be the difference in a 7-6 final.
Easy peasy, DK Breezy pic.twitter.com/ThXkmsntQU
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) May 17, 2026
Key Contributors: Hicklen (3-for-5, RBI) recorded his third multi-hit game of the series. Keirsey Jr. (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) capped off a good series at the plate by driving in two Stripers runs. For Durham, Cooper Kinney (3-for-4, RBI) recorded his second consecutive three-hit game, and Levins (1-for-3, homer, 2 RBI) notched the game-winning home run.
Plated Nachos are a Brew-in' pic.twitter.com/t4bgFWRViu
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) May 17, 2026
Noteworthy: Wisely reached base 15 times in the series after he did so twice on Sunday. Gwinnett lost their first series since going 0-3 vs. Memphis on Opening Weekend. Ian Hamilton extended his season-long scoreless streak to six games with a perfect ninth.
Think Wisely and prepare for a Trompical score! pic.twitter.com/76GWCIwWAV
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) May 17, 2026
Next Game (Tuesday, May 19): Gwinnett Stripers vs. Charlotte Knights, 6:35 p.m. ET at Gwinnett Field. It’s 5-4-3 Tuesday presented by Sahlen’s Hot Dogs. $5 off select tickets, $5 domestic beers and souvenir sodas, $4 large popcorn and nachos, and $3 Sahlen’s Hot Dogs. TV Broadcast: 6:30 p.m. on Peachtree Sports Network and Palmetto Sports & Entertainment. Radio Broadcast: 6:20 p.m. on MyCountry993.com Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.
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