Bulls late rally falls short against Memphis

The Durham Bulls (43-36) fell to the Memphis Redbirds (43-36) on Monday night in front of a season-high paid attendance of 10,757 fans at Durham Bulls Athletics Park.

Durham got on the board first as 2B Jonathan Aranda used a RBI groundout to get the scoring started. DH Miles Mastrobuoni and Aranda later crossed home plate on two fielding errors by Memphis for the 3-0 lead in the fifth.

The Redbirds would come alive in the seventh thanks to an RBI single by DH Alec Burleson and 2B Cory Spangenberg’s sacrifice fly. Memphis would use another multi-run inning in the eighth as RF Moises Gomez tattooed an RBI double to knot the game at three. Burleson would pick-up his second RBI single in the next at bat to give the Redbirds a one-run advantage, while 1B Luke Baker would go deep with a two-run shot to round out the four-run inning and build a 6-3 lead. The Bulls in the ninth were able to score a run as 1B Luke Raley drew a bases loaded walk, trimming the lead to two, however were unable to narrow the deficit any further.

SS Xavier Edwards recorded three hits, tattooing a single, a double and a triple, falling a home run shy of the cycle. Mastrobuoni and C Joe Hudson also added three hits on the night.

Bulls pitcher Easton McGee got the start on the mound, and in seven innings of work allowed two runs on five hits, adding five strikeouts. Durham relief pitcher David Hess picked up the loss after one inning of work and Memphis pitcher Grant Black earned the win.

Following an off day on Tuesday, the Bulls will return to the DBAP for game two against the Memphis Redbirds. LHP Ryan Yarbrough is expected to toe the rubber for Durham and be opposed by LHP Garrett Williams for Memphis.

Tickets for that game and all remaining 2022 home dates can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com/tickets.