Durham Smashes Five Homers, Slams Gwinnett 16-9
August 17, 2023 - International League (IL)
Durham Bulls News Release
DURHAM, NC - Bulls third baseman Austin Shenton and first baseman Nick Dini each clubbed three hits and crushed one of Durham's five home runs, while designated hitter Diego Infante smashed a grand slam as part of a seven-run sixth inning in a 16-9 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Thursday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Entering the last of sixth down 3-1, SS Vidal Brujan bashed a solo shot to make it a one-run ballgame. Dini and RF Ruben Cardenas later in the inning would draw back-to-back bases-loaded walks to give the Bulls a 4-3 advantage. Infante would then put the exclamation mark on the inning with his first Triple-A home run, a grand slam over the center field wall to push Durham's lead to five.
The Stripers struck first in the opening frame, with Shenton countering by slamming his solo blast in the last of the first to even the contest. Single tallies in the third and fourth frames would then put Gwinnett ahead by two, a margin that remained until Durham's big sixth-inning rally. The Bulls would then plate four in the seventh, matched by the Stripers with a four-run eighth of their own, before Durham countered with another four-score inning courtesy of 3B Tristan Gray's three-run blast and Dini's solo homer.
Shenton (2-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Dini (3-) led with three hits apiece and were the only Bulls batters to record multi-hit efforts. Shenton, who has homered in five of Durham's nine games over this current homestand, has now reached base in each of his last 28 games, in addition to all but one of his 30 total games with Durham.
Bulls reliever Enmanuel Mejia (2.0 IP, 2 BB, 1 SO) earned the victory with two scoreless innings of work. Stripers starter Darius Vines (5.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO), meanwhile, suffered the defeat. The victory marked the fifth consecutive win for the Bulls, who have also won 16 of their last 21 contests overall.
The two teams are set to continue their six-game series on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm. RHP Nathan Wiles is anticipated to get the start for Durham, with LHP Dylan Dodd expected to toe the rubber for Gwinnett.
Tickets for that game and all remaining 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.
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