Bulls Jump Back Into First Place After Saturday Win

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 22, 2026

Contact [email protected]

Lawrenceville, GA --- Mason Englert tossed six strong innings to lead the Durham Bulls past the Gwinnett Stripers 3-2 and back into first place in the second half.

The Bulls (30-19) scored three unearned runs in the second inning, but those runs would be just enough for Durham's third straight win.

With one out, Blake Sabol drew a walk from Gwinnett starter Cedric De Grandpre (L, 0-2). Jake Cave reached on a fielder's choice when shortstop Brett Wisely muffed the grounder, allowing Sabol to reach second on the error. After a force out grounder by Homer Bush, Nick Madrigal walked to fill the bases before Tre Morgan was drilled on the leg by a pitch to force home the game's first run. Jack Suwinski followed with a two-run single to right-center for a 3-0 lead.

Englert (W, 1-6) was masterful through his six inning start. Englert retired eight of the first nine batters, then following a double by Patrick Clohisy in the third, Englert set down the next seven. Luke Williams stroked a solo homer in the sixth to cut the Bulls' lead to 3-1. Clohisy followed with a drive to the right field wall, with Cave making a leaping backhand catch at the top of the padding to steal away a home run.

The Bulls maintained their 3-1 lead into the last of the ninth when Gwinnett (23-27) made one final push against Alex Cook (S, 2). With one out, Wisely singled, then scored on a double by Lizandro Espinoza. Kyle Farmer dunked a single into short right, moving Espinoza to third before Cook struck out DaShawn Keirsey. Pinch-hitter David McCabe sailed out to center to end the game.

With Louisville's 5-4 road win over Indianapolis on Saturday night, the Bulls have taken a 1/2 game lead over the Indians with 25 to play in the second half.

Joe Boyle (1-6, 9.13) is slated to start on Sunday against Gwinnett's Eleiser Hernandez (1-5, 4.65) at 1:05 PM ET.

Notes: Tampa Bay reliever Cole Sulser worked two innings in his second rehab outing. Sulser threw 35 pitches total, stranding a pair of runners in his second inning.... Englert's victory was his first in 55 appearances between Durham and Tampa Bay. His last win was in relief on May 15, 2025 against Rochester in relief.... The Bulls lead the season series with Gwinnett 16-7 with Sunday's game the last matchup between the clubs.

About Capitol Broadcasting Company

Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, and WRAL Digital in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV and WILT-LD in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality, and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; The Zebulon Devil Dogz in Zebulon, NC; the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC; Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC; MoJud Lofts in Greensboro, NC; and The Thread in Rock Hill, SC.