Bulls Complete Sweep Of Charlotte With 9-5 Win In Regular Season Finale

Madris homers & drives in 3, Durham set to face Nashville in 1-game playoff for IL title in Las Vegas on Saturday

(Paxton Rembis (Durham Bulls))

September 28, 2022

Bulls center fielder Bligh Madris smashed three hits and drove in three runs, including a solo home run, while catcher Julio Meza collected two hits and drove in two runs in his Triple-A debut as Durham finished off a three-game sweep with a 9-5 victory over the Charlotte Knights on

Bulls center fielder Bligh Madris smashed three hits and drove in three runs, including a solo home run, while catcher Julio Meza collected two hits and drove in two runs in his Triple-A debut as Durham finished off a three-game sweep with a 9-5 victory over the Charlotte Knights on Wednesday afternoon at Truist Field.

The Bulls grabbed the early advantage with a three-run first frame. Madris smacked an RBI double to right before scoring on LF Grant Witherspoon’s sacrifice fly, while RF Ruben Cardenas ripped a run-scoring double to left to cap the inning.

After the Knights narrowed the deficit to one with two tallies in the third, Durham answered with a five-spot in the fourth. Meza clubbed a two-run single to right for his first Triple-A hit, before Madris mashed a ground-rule double to make it 6-2. Meza would then come across on 3B Jim Haley’s infield single to extend the advantage to five before Madris came home on a passed ball. Madris would then leave the yard with a solo blast to right in the sixth to complete Durham’s scoring. Charlotte would later plate three runs to narrow the margin to four.

Madris (3-5, 3 R, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI) led all batters with his three hits, while Haley (2-4, R, RBI, BB), Meza (2-4, R, 2 RBI and Cardenas (2-3, R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB) each recorded multi-hit efforts of their own. Madris’s home run was also the 212th home run hit by a Bulls player this season, setting a new franchise Triple-A record.

Bulls reliever Cooper Criswell (1.0 IP) earned the win with a scoreless frame in support of starter Evan McKendry (4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 SO). Knights starter Sean Burke (3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered the defeat.

After clinching the International League East Division, the Bulls will travel to Las Vegas to participate in the Triple-A Triple Championship Weekend at Las Vegas Ballpark between September 30 through October 2. The Bulls will face the Nashville Sounds on Saturday, October 1 in a one-game playoff for the International League title, with first pitch set for 9:05pm ET. The winner of that game will play in a one-game playoff the next day for the Triple-A National Championship.

Durham begins their 2023 season at home on Friday, March 31 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park to start a three-game set versus Norfolk. Season ticket packages, including 919 Club Memberships and Mini Plans are now available, and can be purchased by contacting the Durham Bulls Ticket Department at 919-956-BULL.