Bulls turn around-the-horn triple play

The box scores will say that Durham lost twice on Sunday afternoon, but the playoff-bound Bulls had a couple of things to celebrate.

Durham turned an around-the-horn triple play in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Norfolk but drew a crowd of 11,104 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park to establish a single-season attendance record.

After dropping the opener, 4-3, the Bulls took an early 6-4 lead in the second game. Quintin Berry started the Tides' third inning with a single and Dariel Alvarez followed with a double. Orioles No. 4 prospect Christian Walker reached on an error by third baseman Mike Fontenot that scored Berry and and Henry Urrutia got aboard on another miscue by second baseman Nick Franklin.

With runners at first and second and nobody out, Michael Almanzar smacked the first pitch from Bulls starter Nathan Karns to Fontenot, who fielded the two-hopper, stepped on third and fired to Franklin. He relayed to first baseman Vince Belnome just in time to get Almanzar and end the inning.

It was the second time in as many seasons that the Bulls turned a 5-4-3 triple play. Belnome was the second baseman for the last one on April 26, 2013 against Toledo.

Belnome collected three hits and scored twice, but Durham dropped the nightcap, 9-6.

With one regular-season game remaining, the Bulls increased their attendance to 525,199, breaking the 2007 record of 520,952. Having already clinched the International League South Division title, they will play Columbus in the best-of-5 Governors' Cup semifinals, beginning Wednesday.