Kelly Goes Deep Twice, Bulls Fall 5-4

Bulls first baseman Dalton Kelly crushed two home runs and drove in three of Durham’s four runs, however the Knights plated five unanswered runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped by second baseman Danny Mendick’s game-winning three-run home run in Charlotte’s 5-4 win in the nightcap of Saturday evening’s doubleheader at Truist Field.

After blanking the Knights 4-0 in the day’s matinee, the Bulls went ahead in game two when Kelly smashed a two-run blast for his 20th big fly of the season. He would then go deep as part of a two-run top of the seventh punctuated by H Rene Pinto’s RBI double. Charlotte, however, would mount a furious comeback that was finished off by Mendick’s walk-off home run.

Kelly has now launched 21 roundtrippers this year, further extending his single-season career-high total. It was the second time this season Kelly has had a multi-homer game after previously doing so last month. Prior to this season, Kelly had hit two home runs in a game just once in his first 506 games of his pro career.

Bulls righties Calvin Faucher (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) and Kenny Rosenberg (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K) along with Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nick Anderson (1.0 IP, 2 K), combined for five of Durham’s first six shutout frames. Reliever David Hess (0.0 IP, H, R, ER) suffered the defeat, while Knights relief man Kyle Crick (1.0 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 2 K) earned his second win.

The two teams are set to finish off their six-game series on Sunday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05pm ET. RHP Tommy Romero is anticipated to get the nod for the Bulls, with the Knights expected to give the ball to RHP Kade McClure.

Durham returns home on Tuesday, September 7 for their penultimate homestand of the year, facing off against the Norfolk Tides for seven tilts. Start time for that series’ opener is set for 6:35pm. Tickets for that game, as well as all remaining Bulls home games are available and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com.