Bulls Split Thursday Twinbill with Mets
April 20, 2023 - International League (IL)
Durham Bulls News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Bulls right fielder Ruben Cardenas and center fielder Kameron Misner each homered and drove in two runs as part of an 8-4 victory in game one for Durham's seventh straight win, however Mets catcher Michael Perez's two-run blast in the nightcap proved to be the difference in Syracuse's 3-1 game two victory as the two teams split their doubleheader on Thursday evening at NBT Bank Ballpark.
The Bulls started the scoring in game one with a four-run second-inning outburst started by Misner's two-run shot to left-center. 2B Curtis Mead would then follow with an RBI single before Durham took advantage of an error to go up four.
Syracuse would narrow the margin to one with a trio of tallies in the last of the second before Cardenas went yard with a two-run blast of his own one inning later to make it 6-3. The Mets would then score a single run in the last of the third to cut their deficit to two, however the Bulls answered with two more scores in the sixth, highlighted by 1B Kyle Manzardo's RBI single.
Durham reliever Heath Hembree (1.0 IP, 3 H, BB, SO) earned the victory, combining for Jose Lopez (0.1 IP) and Chris Muller (2.0 IP, H, 2 BB, SO) for the final 3.1 scoreless frames in support of starter Luis Patino (3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 5 SO). Syracuse starter Alex Valverde (3.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss.
Both teams went scoreless in the nightcap until the fifth, when Perez crushed his two-run homer to put the Mets ahead. Pinto would narrow Durham's deficit to one with an opposite field solo shot to right in the sixth, however Syracuse would once again make it a two-run contest with a single tally in the sixth.
Neither teams' starting pitcher, Durham's Trevor Brigden (3.0 IP, 5 SO) nor Syracuse's David Griffin (3.0 IP, H, 3 BB, 4 SO), factored in the final decisions in game two after each fired three scoreless innings. Mets southpaw Josh Walker (2.0 IP, H, 3 SO) earned the victory, while Bulls righty Braden Bristo (3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) suffered the defeat.
The two teams are set to continue their series on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm ET. RHP Elvin Rodriguez is anticipated to get the nod for Durham and be opposed by RHP Humberto Mejia.
The Bulls return to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, April 25 to start a six-game homestand against the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch of the series opener is set for 11:05am.
Tickets for that game and all 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.
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