Bulls Continue Road Streak, Blank Charlotte 6-0

Charlotte, NC --- Mikie Mahtook collected five hits while four Durham pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the Bulls won their sixth straight game, blanking Charlotte 3-0 on Monday night.

Mahtook had four singles and a triple and a diving catch in left field in the sixth inning to preserve Durham's first shutout of the season. He raised his average from .275 to .356 during the game.

The Bulls' (9-3) first-ever game in Charlotte's new uptown ballpark was scheduled to feature Enny Romero. However, an hour before the first pitch Romero was scratched due to Jake Odorizzi falling ill in Baltimore earlier in the day. Odorizzi is slated to start Tuesday night against the Orioles, but Romero would fill in for him if Odorizzi is physically unable to pitch.

With little notice, Juan Sandoval was given the task of starting against the Knights (6-6) and battled through three scoreless innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Juan Carlos Oviedo (W, 1-0) was credited with the win with a perfect fourth. Steve Geltz worked three hitless innings, with Adam Liberatore and Kirby Yates rounding out the shutout with an inning apiece.

The Bulls set the tone in the opening inning against Andre Rienzo (L, 0-2). Durham batted around, with three of the Bulls' four runs scoring with two outs. Mahtook and Mike Fontenot singled in runs, with Ali Solis doubling down the third base line to plate another.

In the fifth, Vince Belnome hit his first home run of the season, driving a pitch from reliever Ryan Kussmaul into the left field bleachers. Solis later followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Mahtook, who had tripled to deep center.

The Bulls, who are 4-0 on this road swing, beat Rienzo for the second time in a week.

Durham closes out its first road trip on Tuesday night at 7:05 PM ET with Matt Andriese (1-1, 5.40) starting against Charlotte LH Eric Surkamp.