IL Durham Bulls

Bulls Top Saints 5-3

Published on July 16, 2023 under International League (IL)
Durham Bulls News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. - Bulls first baseman Austin Shenton clubbed two hits, smashing his first Triple-A home run, southpaw starter Jacob Lopez fired five solid frames and Durham scored two runs in the ninth to complete a 5-3 victory and earn a series win over the St. Paul Saints on Sunday afternoon at CHS Field.

The Bulls opened the scoring in the opening frame when 3B Curtis Mead came plateward on a field's choice. After the Saints evened the game up in the second, Shenton crushed his first Triple-A longball, a solo shot, to put Durham ahead in the sixth prior to DH Tristan Gray's RBI single. St. Paul would then tie the contest with a two-spot in the seventh, though the Bulls would go back ahead in the ninth when SS Vidal Brujan drew a bases-loaded walk, with LF Ruben Cardenas later coming across on a passed ball.

Shenton (2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI), Gray (2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB), Cardenas (2-4, 1 R) and 2B Osleivis Basabe (2-5) all posted multi-hit efforts in the triumph. Mead tallied a single, giving him at least one knock in nine of his ten games with Durham since coming off the Injured List on June 30.

Lopez (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) did not factor in the final decisions despite a strong outing, fanning seven batters while yielding a lone earned run on five hits in his five frames. Bulls reliever Justin Sterner (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) earned the win, while Michael Mercado notched the save. Saints reliever Ronny Henriquez (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB) suffered the defeat.

After a off day on Monday, the Bulls begin a six-game road set versus the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, on Tuesday, July 18. Starting pitchers for both teams have not yet been announced, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45pm.

Following their six-game series in Rochester, Durham returns home on Tuesday, July 25 for a six-game homestand versus the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. First pitch for the series opener is set for 6:35pm. 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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International League Stories from July 16, 2023


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