Shaffer Drives In 3 For Durham In 8-6 Loss

DURHAM, NC - Matt Andriese struck out nine batters, and Richie Shaffer drove in three runs for the second straight game as the Bulls suffered an 8-6 loss to the Charlotte Knights on Friday at the DBAP.

After a home run in the first inning, Andriese settled in and went four frames in front of 6,325 fans before he was touched up for another run and left the game with two base runners on. Those two went on to score, and Andriese finished with six hits and four earned runs, but no walks to go with his nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Shaffer had a double and a run in his 3-for-5 night to go with his three RBIs. Daniel Robertson added the Bulls' (1-1) first home run of the season in the eighth, tying the game at 6-6 going into the ninth. Charlotte (1-1) plated a pair of runs off of Durham reliever Jhan Mariñez (0-1) in the top of the ninth, and Durham left the tying run on second base to end the game.

Daniel Webb (1-0) took the win for Charlotte despite blowing the save in the ninth. Jason Coats led the Knights at the plate, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs and a run scored.

Robertson finished the game 3 for 3, including his home run, to raise his batting average to .500 after the first two games.

The Bulls pitching staff added 14 strikeouts to its total for the season, which now stands at 25 after two games. The Durham offense added 12 hits to the 14 it had last night.

Durham takes on Charlotte in the third game of a four-game series at 5:05 p.m. Saturday at the DBAP. Tickets are available at durhambulls.com, or at the Frontier Communications Ticket Office.