Bulls Clinch Playoff Berth Despite Loss

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls clinched their third straight postseason berth despite falling to the Gwinnett Stripers 8-5 Monday afternoon at the DBAP. With an extra-inning Charlotte loss in Norfolk, the Bulls captured the International League Wild Card spot.
The Bulls now await the winner of a play-in game between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Syracuse Mets for their upcoming playoff series. Durham will host Game One and Two of the first round on Wednesday and Thursday night, before travelling to face the North Division winner for the remaining three games in the Best-Of-5 series. The team's postseason berth marks the 16^th time in 22 seasons in the International League the Bulls have advanced to the postseason.
In Monday's game, Gwinnett began their scoring run in the top of the third inning, picking up an RBI single from Sean Kazmar Jr. to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulls held Gwinnett scoreless in the fourth, but then began a five-run fifth inning that started with a bases-loaded, three run double by Kazmar to extend the lead to 4-0. Jack Lopez drove in Kazmar with a two-run home run to take a 6-0 lead.
The Bulls were able to get a run back, by loading the bases on Stripers starter Huascar Ynoa, but only generated one run on a double-play groundout by Jake Cronenworth to make it 6-1. However, Ryan LaMarre drove in two more insurance runs on an RBI single to make it 8-1 Stripers.
Mike Brosseau was able to tack on another run with a solo home run over the Blue Monster in left field to make it 8-2. The comeback attempted continued with the Bulls adding another run on an RBI double by Emilio Bonifácio to cut the deficit to five. Jason Coats drove in two more with a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 8-5, but the Bulls couldn't complete the comeback. Ynoa (3-5) recorded the win for the Stripers, while Vidal Nuno (1-2) suffered the loss for the Bulls.