Bulls Topple Knights 8-5

Bulls first baseman Dalton Kelly and third baseman Wyatt Mathisen each drove in two runs as part of a seven-run fourth inning and center fielder Ryan Boldt made two excellent defensive grabs in Durham’s 8-5 victory over the Charlotte Knights on Tuesday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

After the Knights struck first with a single tally in the top of the fourth, the Bulls answered with seven-run surge in the bottom of the frame. Following run-scoring singles by SS Wander Franco and C Deivy Grullon, Mathisen brought home two with a double off the left field wall to make it 4-1. Kelly extended the lead to five with a two-run two-bagger of his own before coming across on a Charlotte error to cap the frame.

The Knights would narrow the lead with a pair of tallies in the seventh, however Kelly struck again with an RBI single in the eighth for his third RBI of the evening. Charlotte plated two more scores in the ninth, however it was not enough to erase Durham’s hold on the contest.

Kelly (2-3, R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) was the lone Bulls batter to post a multi-hit effort. Boldt was outstanding in the outfield, making a leaping grab in front of the Blue Monster wall in left-center field in the sixth prior to making a diving catch to steal another hit in the eighth. It was the Bulls’ sixth victory in seven matchups with the Knights in 2021.

Durham right-hander David Hess (2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K) earned his team-leading fifth victory of the season after starter Chris Ellis (2.1 IP, H, BB, 3 K) tossed 2.1 shutout frames. Charlotte southpaw Matt Tomshaw (3.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) suffered the defeat.

The two teams are set to face off again on Wednesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm ET. LHP Dietrich Enns is anticipated to get the nod for the Bulls, while RHP Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 6.92) is expected to start for the Knights. Tickets for that game and the remainder of Durham’s homestand with Charlotte through June 13 are now available at durhambulls.com.