Tides Top Bulls 9-4

Bulls shortstop Tristan Gray collected two hits, including a two-run double, while Tides center fielder Stevie Wilkerson homered and two in two runs in Norfolk’s 9-4 win over Durham on Friday evening at Harbor Park.

After the Tides got on the board with a single tally in the opening frame, Gray laced his two-run double to right one inning later to give the Bulls a 2-1 advantage. Norfolk would tie the contest at 2-2 in the last of the second before Durham responded with a two-spot in the fourth, highlighted by C Joseph Odom’s RBI double to left. The Tides, however, would answer with a trio of tallies in the last of the fourth before Wilkerson went deep two frames later to extend the margin to 7-4. A pair of scores would then come across in the seventh to cap the scoring for the Tides.

Gray (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) was the lone Bulls batter to post a multi-hit effort. CF Josh Lowe extended his hit streak to ten games with a third-inning single, while 1B Dalton Kelly saw his hit streak snapped at seven after going hitless.

Norfolk starter Kyle Bradish (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) earned his second victory, while relievers Konner Wade (3.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K) and Dusten Knight (1.0 IP, K). Durham starter Chris Ellis (3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) suffered the defeat.

The two teams are scheduled to face off again on Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm ET. RHP Luis Patino (3-1, 2.21) is anticipated to get the nod for the Bulls, while LHP Kevin Smith (1-1, 3.86) is slated to take the hill for the Tides.

The Bulls return to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, July 13, to start a six-game series versus the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm ET. Tickets for that game and all other remaining Bulls home games are also available at durhambulls.com.