Bulls Bash Stripers 9-7

The Bulls pounded out fifteen hits, including six multi-hit efforts, as first baseman Dalton Kelly posted a game-high three hits and left fielder Vidal Brujan drove in three runs in Durham’s 9-7 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Friday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

After Gwinnett struck first with a pair of tallies in the opening frame, Durham answered when CF Nathan Lukes clubbed a game-tying two-run double to left. Following SS Esteban Quiroz’s go-ahead run-scoring single, Brujan extended the advantage to 6-2 with a bases-clearing double to center.

The Stripers would narrow the margin to one courtesy of a three-run fourth, however Durham struck back with a trio of scores in the sixth thanks to RBI doubles from Lowe and 2B Kevin Padlo, as well as Kelly’s run-scoring single. Gwinnett inched back with a pair of runs in the eighth, however the Bulls shut the door in the ninth to thwart the comeback effort.

Kelly (3-5, R), Brujan (2-5, 2B, 3 RBI), Lukes (2-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Padlo (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB), Sullivan (2-4, 2 R, 2B, BB) and Quiroz (2-5, 2 R, RBI) all recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory as eight of nine batters in Durham’s order recorded at least one knock. Sullivan extended his hit streak to seven, while Lukes has collected a hit in six consecutive contests.

Bulls reliever Sean Poppen (1.2 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K) earned the win, while southpaw Adam Conley notched the save. Gwinnett starter Touki Toussaint (2.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 5 K), who is with the Stripers on a Major League Rehab Assignment, suffered the defeat.

The two teams are slated to square off again on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm ET. RHP Shane Baz (1-0, 1.29) is expected to get the nod for the Bulls, while RHP Jose Rodriguez (0-2, 11.81) is slated to start for the Stripers. Tickets for that game and all remaining Bulls home games are now available at durhambulls.com.