Durham takes game five, secures series win

The Durham Bulls (35-30) defeated the Louisville Bats (23-41) 6-5 on Saturday to clinch the series outright, now leading 4-1 in the six-game set at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Durham got on the board first, crossing the plate twice in the first when 2B Xavier Edwards and SS Ford Proctor *connected on RBI singles to get the early lead. Louisville would respond the next inning with two runs on their own to tie the contest as C Sandy Leon used an RBI double to get the Bats on the board, while RF Alejo Lopez tattooed an RBI single for the equalizing run.

Louisville would continue their run in the fourth as Leon connected on his second RBI single of the night to put the Bats ahead 3-2. In the fifth, it was the Bulls’ turn to respond as RF Josh Lowe *put his name in the RBI column with a double to knot the game again. In the following inning, Leon caused more damage at the plate, ringing up RBI number three to give the Bats a 4-3 advantage.

Durham, however, would answer in the sixth as CF Cal Stevenson got the equalizing RBI single before 3B Jonathan Aranda’s two-run single would make it a 6-4 advantage for the Bulls.

In the ninth inning, the Bats would cross the plate on a sacrifice fly from DH Christian Santana. With two outs and the tying run on third, needing a run to extend the game, Bulls pitcher Phoenix Sanders rang up a strikeout to secure the Durham win.

Bulls starter Ryan Yarbrough picked up his first win of the season after posting six innings of work, allowing four runs on nine hits while ringing up three strikeouts. Louisville pitcher Randy Wynne picked up the loss and Sanders notched the save.

The Bulls and Bats will be back in action at the DBAP on Sunday for the series finale. First pitch is slated for 5:05 pm. RHP Kevin Herget (3-0, 1.97) is expected to start for Durham and RHP Robert Dugger (0-1, 6.23) is scheduled to start for Louisville.

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