Bulls late comeback attempt falls short in game 5

Bulls 3B Tristan Gray went yard twice to extend his International League lead, however Lehigh Valley (53-45) 1B Josh Okimey crushed a three-run blast as the IronPigs held off Durham (54-44) 7-6 on Saturday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Despite the loss, the Bulls maintain a 3-2 series lead heading into Sunday’s series finale.

RF Justin Williams put Lehigh Valley ahead in the first knocking an RBI single. In the second, 2B Jean Segura lined an RBI double to extend the IronPigs lead to 3-0. 3B Drew Maggi would keep the bats hot for Lehigh Valley in the third with an RBI single of his own.

In the sixth, the Bulls would come alive at the plate behind an RBI groundout from 2B Miles Mastrobuoni, and two batters later SS Xavier Edwards launched an RBI single to center to trim the Durham deficit to two. The IronPigs would respond in the eighth behind Ockimey’s three-run shot to stretch the lead to 7-2.

The Bulls would not go away as Gray tattooed his 22nd home run on the season with a two-run bomb to trim the deficit to three. In the ninth, needing at least three-runs to extend the contest, Gray launched another two-run blast for his 23rd homer on the year, extending his International League leading tally to cut the deficit to one.

Lehigh Valley starting pitcher Kent Emmanuel threw six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and ringing up five strikeouts to earn the victory. Bulls pitcher Taj Bradley suffered the loss.

The Bulls are set to conclude their nine-game homestand on Sunday evening for the series finale of their six-game set against the IronPigs, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05pm. RHP Luis Patino (1-0, 3.68) is slated to toe the rubber for Durham, and be opposed by LHP Ricardo Sanchez (4-3, 4.71) for Lehigh Valley.

Tickets for that game and all remaining 2022 home games are still available and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com.