Five Run 5th Lifts Bulls in Regular Season Home Finale
The IL South Division Champion Durham Bulls closed out the home portion of their regular season schedule with a resounding 13-6 win over the Charlotte Knights on Tuesday at the DBAP.
The Bulls broke open a 3-3 tie with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After two walks to start the frame, Chris Gimenez singled in a run, and Tim Beckham singled in two. Beckham had two hits, two runs, and two stolen bases on the night. Cole Figueroa doubled in a run, and Brandon Guyer capped the inning with an RBI single.
Durham added three runs in the eighth, highlighted by a Vince Belnome RBI double, to put the game out of reach.
Kevin Kiermaier added two stolen bases, giving the Bulls had a total of six thefts for the game. Kiermaier was also one of eight different Bulls to have doubles in the game and added a triple in the sixth inning.
Matt Buschmann (W, 8-1, 2.97) pitched 5 innings of four-hit ball, striking out three, which brought his total to 100 on the season. Including his season-opening stint in Double-A Montgomery, Buschmann is 14-4 on the season.
The Bulls will not return home until the opening game of the Governors' Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, September 4 against IL West champion Indianapolis. Durham closes out the regular season with road series at Gwinnett and Norfolk.
RHP J.D. Martin (15-4, 2.84), the International League's newly-crowned Most Valuable Pitcher, starts for the Bulls Wednesday against Gwinnett RHP David Hale (6-7, 2.87).
Bulls game story brought to you by Strayer University, Bringing Home the Bulls in September.