Bulls Sink Stripers 11-8
Bulls shortstop Greg Jones clubbed two hits, including a homer, and scored three times, while second baseman Vidal Brujan, third baseman Osleivis Basabe and catcher Rene Pinto combined with Jones to drive in eight runs and four Durham relievers combined for six and two-thirds scoreless frames in an 11-8 victory
Bulls shortstop Greg Jones clubbed two hits, including a homer, and scored three times, while second baseman Vidal Brujan, third baseman Osleivis Basabe and catcher Rene Pinto combined with Jones to drive in eight runs and four Durham relievers combined for six and two-thirds scoreless frames in an 11-8 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Friday evening at Coolray Field.
After Gwinnett plated a two-spot in the opening frame, Durham answered with a six-spot in the second. LF Niko Hulsizer and Jones each drove in a run with RBI singles to even the contest before Brujan brought home two with his go-ahead knock to right. Basabe then extended the advantage to three before Brujan came across on a double steal attempt to cap the big inning.
The Stripers would counter with a six-run spurt of their own in the third to go ahead 8-6, however the Bulls bounced right back with four scores in the fourth to take back the lead at 10-8, highlighted by Pinto’s two-run double to left-center and DH Ruben Cardenas’ run-scoring single to right. Jones one inning later would then exit the yard for his first Triple-A roundtripper.
Jones (2-4, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Brujan (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), Basabe (2-4, 2 RBI), Cardenas (2-5, R, RBI) and CF Kameron Misner (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB) all posted multi-hit efforts in the victory. Gwinnett RF Forrest Wall (3-5, 2 R), meanwhile, posted a game-high three knocks.
Bulls reliever Jose Lopez (1.2 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 SO), Trevor Brigden (2.2 IP, H, BB, 4 SO), Luis Patino (1.0 IP) and Javy Guerra (1.0 IP, H, BB, SO) combined for the final 6.1 scoreless innings of relief, with Lopez earning the win and Guerra notching the save. Stripers starter Tanner Gordon (3.2 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the defeat.
The two teams are set to continue their six-game road series on Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05pm. LHP Joe La Sorsa is anticipated to get the nod for Durham and be opposed by RHP Allan Winans.
Durham returns home to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Monday, May 29 to begin a seven-game homestand hosting the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. First pitch of that contest is slated for 5:05pm.
Tickets for that game and all 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.