'Pigs best Bulls in series finale

Bulls starting pitcher Luis Patino tossed four perfect innings, however Lehigh Valley (54-45) used a five-run fifth inning to surge past Durham (54-45) 7-2 in the six-game series finale at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Despite the loss, the Bulls remain in a three-way first place in the International League East Division standings with Lehigh Valley and Jacksonville.

Durham struck first in the opening frame behind a sacrifice fly from CF Miles Mastrobuoni. The IronPigs, however, would come alive in the fifth as RF Justin Williams knocked an RBI double, followed by a two-run double by C Rafael Marchan in the next at bat. SS Scott Kingery would round out the inning with a two-run shot for the 5-1 lead.

Lehigh Valley would keep their momentum going in the sixth behind an RBI single from LF Chris Sharpe. The Bulls would respond in the bottom half as LF Jonathan Aranda drove in a ground out RBI to cut the lead to 6-2.

IronPigs starter Ricardo Sanchez earned the win after five innings of work, allowing one run on two hits and ringing up six strikeouts. Durham pitcher JT Chargois suffered the loss. Patino set down all 12 batters faced in his four perfect frames, fanning four batters.

After an off day on Monday, the Bulls are set to open a six-game road trip on Tuesday against the Worcester Red Sox, first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 pm. LHP Jay Groome is slated to start for Worcester, while Durham’s starter has not yet been announced.

The Bulls will return to the DBAP following their six-game road trip on Tuesday, August 9th to open a six-game homestand against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.

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