Durham Closes Regular Season With 5-1 Win

DURHAM, NC - The South Division champion Durham Bulls closed out the regular season with a 5-1 win over the Norfolk Tides Monday afternoon at the DBAP.

After the Tides opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third, Durham countered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Wilson Betemit led off with a single, and after a strikeout advanced to third on a double by Mayo Acosta. Nick Franklin then drove in both baserunners to put the Bulls ahead, before Justin Christian launched a two-run homer over the Blue Monster for a 4-1 advantage.

In the sixth Durham (75-69) scored once again, this time when Christian doubled, stole third and scored on Cole Figueroa's sacrifice fly to right field.

Right-hander Jake Thompson (4-1) picked up the victory, tossing three innings of scoreless relief, while righty Cory Burns earned his first save of the season with a rare three-inning save. Right-hander Tyler Wilson (4-3) suffered the loss for the Tides (65-79), allowing five runs on five hits over six innings of work.

The Bulls open up the 2014 Governors' Cup Playoffs on Wednesday on the road against the Columbus Clippers. In Game One of the best-of-Five series, Durham RHP Alex Colome (7-6, 3.77) gets the start, while the Clippers have yet to name a starting pitcher. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Huntington Park.