Bulls stymie 'Pigs in Game 4

Bulls LF Ryan Boldt and 1B Jim Haley both went yard Friday night as Durham (54-43) took a 3-1 series lead, clinching at least a share of the series with a 5-1 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (52-45) at Durham Bulls Athletic Park to remain in first place in the International League East Division.

Durham struck first in the second frame as Boldt found a gap in left field to drive in an RBI single. The IronPigs would respond in the third as CF Mickey Moniak went deep on a solo shot to even the score at one. The Bulls would then get hot in the third and put together a three-run inning, starting with Boldt’s two-run bomb, giving him three RBI on the night, followed by an RBI single by 3B Jonathan Aranda for the 4-1 advantage. In the fifth, Haley tattooed a solo homer to extend the Durham lead to four.

The Durham relief pitching staff of JT Chargois, Dalton Moats, Calvin Faucher and Chris Muller combined for four scoreless innings, while ringing up six strikeouts. Bulls starter Easton McGee earned his fifth win of the season after five innings of work, allowing one run on four hits, while totaling five strikeouts, and IronPigs pitcher Cristopher Sanchez picked up the loss.

The Bulls are set to continue their nine-game homestand on Saturday evening for game five of their series against the IronPigs, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm. RHP Taj Bradley (1-0, 0.00) is slated to toe the rubber for Durham for his second Triple-A appearance, while Lehigh Valley’s starter has not been announced.

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