Season Closes with Loss to Norfolk

DURHAM, NC - After scoring at least seven runs in three straight games, the Durham Bulls' fell to the Norfolk Tides 7-1 Monday afternoon at the DBAP, concluding the 2016 season.

The Tides (62-82) took an early lead by scoring two runs in the first inning. Xavier Avery led off with a double and Chance Sisco reached on a wild pitch strikeout, before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly and double, respectively. The visitors made it a 3-0 game in the third when Christian Walker belted a solo homer.

Durham (64-80) plated its lone run of the game in the fourth on Casey Gillaspie's solo homer down the right field line, but Norfolk extended its lead in the seventh on Walker's two-run homer to centerfield. Sisco put the game away in the ninth, tacking on a two-run dinger as the Bulls failed to finish the season on a four-game winning streak.

Mike Wright (4-4) earned the win by allowing one run on three hits over five innings, while right-hander Austin Pruitt (8-11) took the loss after surrendering three runs across four frames. Despite the loss the Bulls finished the season by striking out 12 Norfolk batters, finishing the year with an International League-record 1,287 strikeouts.

The Durham Bulls open the 2017 International League season in 214 days, on April 6 against the Gwinnett Braves.

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