Bulls Blank Jumbo Shrimp 2-0

Bulls first baseman Jim Haley hammered a home run in his second consecutive game and left fielder Grant Witherspoon reached base four times, while five Durham pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Thursday night at 121 Financial Ballpark.

CF Ryan Boldt gave the Bulls their first score with an RBI single to right. Haley would later smash a solo shot in the sixth to double the advantage to 2-0. Haley homered in his second straight game, and has also gone deep in three of his last four contests.

Witherspoon (2-2, 2B, 2 BB) clubbed two hits and drew two walks to reach base in all four plate appearances, with 3B Xavier Edwards (2-5) adding a multi-hit effort. Tampa Bay Rays SS Wander Franco smashed a double in his first at-bat of the night and later drew two bases on balls in his second game with the Bulls as part of his MLB Rehab Assignment.

Durham hurlers Tommy Romero (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO), Ben Bowden (1.1 IP, H, SO), Cristofer Ogando (1.2 IP, H, 2 SO), Dusten Knight (1.0 IP, SO) and Javy Guerra (1.0 IP, H, 3 SO) joined forces to yield just five hits in the shutout victory. Ogando earned the win and Guerra notched the save, while Jacksonville starter Elieser Hernandez (4.2 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 8 SO) suffered the defeat.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their six-game series on Friday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm. RHP Kevin Herget is expected to get the nod for the Bulls, with RHP Bryan Hoering slated to start for the Jumbo Shrimp.

Following their 12-game road trip, Durham returns home on Monday, July 4 to start a six-game series against the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch of that contest is set for 6:35pm.

Tickets for that game and all remaining 2022 home dates can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com/tickets.