Gillaspie Leads Offensive Outburst in 10-6 Win

First baseman homers twice as Bulls homer four times in victory

August 22, 2016

NORFOLK, VA - The Durham Bulls pounded out 13 hits in a 10-6 win over the Norfolk Tides Monday night at Harbor Park, sweeping the two-game set and winning for the third time in their last four contests.

Casey Gillaspie led the way for the Bulls (57-73), going 4-for-5 with a pair of two-run home runs and four RBI. The first baseman scored three runs in the victory, tying career-highs for home runs and hits in a single game, as Durham won back-to-back contests for the first time in the month of August.

Daniel Robertson, Taylor Motter, Jaff Decker and Johnny Field each tallied two-hit nights, with Motter and Decker going deep as well. The Bulls got off to a fast start, with Gillaspie hitting a two-run homer three batters in to the game, with Motter and Decker each following with solo shots for back-to-back-to-back dingers and a 4-0 lead.

Norfolk (56-74) scored two runs in the second inning, and plated two more in the third to tie the contest at four. Durham re-took a lead in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Motter, but the home side came back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of its own to once again tie the contest.

In the seventh Gillaspie struck for the final time, lifting a two-run, opposite-field homer to right to give the visitors an 8-6 lead, which they extended to 10-6 in the ninth on a two-run single by Dayron Varona.

Parker Markel (4-3) earned the win in relief for Durham, allowing a run on two hits in two innings. Dana Eveland retired all six hitters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings, before Steve Geltz turned in a perfect ninth to preserve the win. Edgar Olmos (4-4) took the loss for the second straight evening, allowing Gillaspie's two-run homer in the seventh that broke the tie game. The rehabbing Alex Cobb allowed five runs on nine hits in four innings of work for Durham, as the right-hander finished with 81 pitches, 51 for strikes.

Durham's five-game road trip continues Tuesday with the opener of a three-game set against the Charlotte Knights. RHP Jake Faria (3-4, 4.06) takes the hill for Durham opposite RHP Tyler Barnette (1-1, 7.22) for Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.